I have heard many such things
: miserable
comforters
are ye all.
Shall vain words
have an end
? or what emboldeneth
thee that thou answerest
?
I also could speak as ye do : if
your soul
were
in my soul's
stead, I could heap up
words
against you, and shake
mine head
at
you.
But I would strengthen you with
my mouth
, and the moving
of my lips
should asswage
your grief .
Though I speak, my grief
is not asswaged
: and though I forbear
, what am I eased
?
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate
all my company
.
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness
against me : and my leanness
rising up
in me beareth witness
to my face
.
He teareth me in his wrath
, who hateth
me: he gnasheth
upon me with his teeth
; mine enemy
sharpeneth
his eyes
upon me.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth
; they have smitten
me upon the cheek
reproachfully
; they have gathered
themselves together
against me.
God hath delivered
me to the ungodly
, and turned me over
into the hands
of the wicked
.
I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder
: he hath also taken
me by my neck
, and shaken me to pieces
, and set me up
for his mark
.
His archers compass me round about
, he cleaveth
my reins
asunder
, and doth not spare
; he poureth out
my gall
upon the ground
.
He breaketh me with breach
upon
breach
, he runneth
upon me like a giant
.
I have sewed sackcloth
upon my skin
, and defiled
my horn
in the dust
.
My face is foul
with weeping
, and on my eyelids
is the shadow of death
;
Not for any injustice in mine hands
: also my prayer
is pure
.
O earth, cover
not thou my blood
, and let my cry
have no place
.
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven
, and my record
is on high
.
My friends scorn
me: but mine eye
poureth out
tears unto God
.
O that one might plead for a man
with God
, as a man
pleadeth for his neighbour
!
When a few years
are come
, then I shall go
the way
whence I shall not return
.