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Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

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.

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.

If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.

I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.

He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.

Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.

All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.

I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.

Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.

Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.

Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;

As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!

Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.

If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.

I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.

He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.

I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.

Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?

When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.

I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.

I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.

I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.

I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door;