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1
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Then Job answered and said, |
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2
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I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. |
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3
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Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? |
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4
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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. |
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5
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But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. |
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6
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Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? |
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7
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But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. |
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8
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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. |
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9
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He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. |
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10
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They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. |
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11
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God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. |
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12
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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. |
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13
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His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. |
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14
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He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant. |
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15
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I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. |
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16
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My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; |
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17
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Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. |
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18
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O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. |
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19
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Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. |
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20
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My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. |
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21
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O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! |
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22
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When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. |