1 Then Job {Iyov: Tested Sufferer} answered {vayan: formal reply} and said,
2 I have heard many such things{such things: ke'eleh}; miserable comforters{menachamei: would-be comforters} are all of you.
3 Is there an end{end: qets limit} to words of wind{wind: ruach empty breath}, or what urges you on that you answer?
4 I also could speak like you, if your life were in the place {tachat: instead of} of my life; I could heap up {achbirah: heap up words} words against you, and shake my head at you.
5 I would strengthen{amats: give courage} you with my mouth, and the solace{nid: soothing relief} of my lips would soothe your pain.
6 If I speak, my pain{ke'evi: personal anguish} is not withheld{yechasekh: held back}; and if I refrain, what from me will depart?
7 Surely, now, You {YHWH, Sovereign Afflictor} have wearied me; You have made desolate {shamem: laid waste} all my company.
8 And You {Yahweh, Afflicting Judge} have shriveled me up, and it has become a witness; my leanness {kakhashi: gaunt condition} rises up against me and answers before my face.
9 In his anger he tore me, and he hated me; he gnashed{kharaq: furious clenching} at me with his teeth; my adversary{tsari: personal foe} sharpens his eyes at me.
10 They have gaped at me with their mouths; with reproach {kherpah: shaming scorn} they have struck my cheeks; together against me they assemble {yitmallaun: mass together}.
11 God {El, My Overruling Judge} gives me over to the wicked {avil: unjust person}, and hurls me into the hands of wicked people.
12 I was at ease {shalev: peaceful rest}, but He tore me apart; He seized me by my neck and crushed me, and He set me up for Himself as a target {lemattarah: aiming point}.
13 They encircle me—His {Heavenly Judge, Unpitying} archers {rabbayw: bowmen}; He cleaves my kidneys open and shows no pity; He pours out my gall onto the earth.
14 He breaks through me with breach {perets: piling devastation} upon breach; He runs upon me like a mighty man {gibbor: battle champion}.
15 I have sewn sackcloth{saq: mourning garment} upon my skin, and I have laid my horn{qarni: symbol of honor} in the dust.
16 My face is reddened and inflamed from my weeping {bekhi: grief tears}, and on my eyelids is deep darkness {tsalmavet: shadow of death}.
17 For there is no violence {khamas: unjust wrongdoing} in my hands, and my prayer {tefillati: plea to God} is pure.
18 Earth, do not cover{tekhassi: conceal evidence} my blood, and do not let there be a place{makom: resting place} for my cry.
19 Even now, behold{hinneh: urgent focus}, my witness is in the heavens, and my attester is on high{meromim: highest place}.
20 My mockers {melitsai: mocking voices} are my friends; to God {Eloah, Plea Hearer} my eye drips.
21 And may he plead for a man with God {Eloah, Judicial Hearer}, and a son of man {ben adam: mortal human} for his friend.
22 For only a numbered{mispar: limited count} span of years will come, and I will go on the path{orach: one-way road} from which I will not return.