Bible
- 1
- THEN JOB answered,
- 2
- I have heard many such things; wearisome and miserable comforters are you all!
- 3
- Will your futile words of wind have no end? Or what makes you so bold to answer [me like this]?
- 4
- I also could speak as you do, if you were in my stead; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.
- 5
- [But] I would strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would soothe your suffering.
- 6
- If I speak [to you miserable comforters], my sorrow is not soothed or lessened; and if I refrain [from speaking], in what way am I eased? [I hardly know whether to answer you or be silent.]
- 7
- But now [God] has taken away my strength. You [O Lord] have made desolate all my family and associates.
- 8
- You have laid firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness [and wretched state of body] are further evidence [against me]; [they] testify to my face.
- 9
- [My adversary Satan] has torn [me] in his wrath and hated and persecuted me; he has gnashed upon me with his teeth; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
- 10
- [The forces of evil] have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me upon the cheek insolently; they massed themselves together and conspired unanimously against me. [Ps. 22:13; 35:21.]
- 11
- God has delivered me to the ungodly (to the evil one) and cast me [headlong] into the hands of the wicked (Satan's host).
- 12
- I was living at ease, but [Satan] crushed me and broke me apart; yes, he seized me by the neck and dashed me in pieces; then he set me up for his target.
- 13
- [Satan's] arrows whiz around me. He slashes open my vitals and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
- 14
- [Satan] stabs me, making breach after breach and attacking again and again; he runs at me like a giant and irresistible warrior.
- 15
- I have sewed sackcloth over my skin [as a sign of mourning] and have defiled my horn (my insignia of strength) in the dust.
- 16
- My face is red and swollen with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death [my eyes are dimmed],
- 17
- Although there is no guilt or violence in my hands and my prayer is pure.
- 18
- O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place [where it will cease being heard].
- 19
- Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high. [Rom. 1:9.]
- 20
- My friends scorn me, but my eye pours out tears to God.
- 21
- Oh, that there might be one who would plead for a man with God and that he would maintain his right with Him, as a son of man pleads with or for his neighbor! [I Tim. 2:5.]
- 22
- For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return.
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Amplified Bible Copyright (c) 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631 All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org
