²⁰ You overpower them once for all, and they are gone;^(A)
    you change their countenance and send them away.^(B)
21 If their children are honored, they do not know it;
    if their offspring are brought low, they do not see it.^(C)
22 They feel but the pain of their own bodies^(D)
    and mourn only for themselves.^(E)”

² “I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters,^(A) all of you!^(B)
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?^(C)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?^(D)
4 I also could speak like you,
    if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
    and shake my head^(E) at you.
⁵ But my mouth would encourage you;
    comfort^(F) from my lips would bring you relief.^(G)

⁶ “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.^(H)
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;^(I)
    you have devastated my entire household.^(J)
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness^(K) rises up and testifies against me.^(L)
9 God assails me and tears^(M) me in his anger^(N)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;^(O)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.^(P)
10 People open their mouths^(Q) to jeer at me;^(R)
    they strike my cheek^(S) in scorn
    and unite together against me.^(T)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.^(U)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.^(V)
He has made me his target;^(W)
13     his archers surround me.^(X)
Without pity, he pierces^(Y) my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground.
¹⁴ Again and again^(Z) he bursts upon me;
    he rushes at me like a warrior.^(AA)

¹⁵ “I have sewed sackcloth^(AB) over my skin
    and buried my brow in the dust.^(AC)
16 My face is red with weeping,^(AD)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;^(AE)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence^(AF)
    and my prayer is pure.^(AG)

¹⁸ “Earth, do not cover my blood;^(AH)
    may my cry^(AI) never be laid to rest!^(AJ)
19 Even now my witness^(AK) is in heaven;^(AL)
    my advocate is on high.^(AM)
20 My intercessor^(AN) is my friend^[a](AO)
    as my eyes pour out^(AP) tears^(AQ) to God;
²¹ on behalf of a man he pleads^(AR) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

²² “Only a few years will pass
    before I take the path of no return.^(AS)