And Job's three friends had word of all this evil which had come on him. And they came every one from his place, Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. So they came together to a meeting-place, in order that they might go and make clear to Job their grief for him, and give him comfort.

Because it did not keep the doors of my mother's body shut, so that trouble might be veiled from my eyes.

Why did the knees take me, or why the breasts that they might give me milk?

For then I might have gone to my rest in quiet, and in sleep have been in peace,

Or as a child dead at birth I might never have come into existence; like young children who have not seen the light.

If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!

If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!

If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!

For he is not a man as I am, that I might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge.

There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.

If only a clean thing might come out of an unclean! But it is not possible.

If only you would keep me safe in the underworld, putting me in a secret place till your wrath is past, giving me a fixed time when I might come to your memory again!

I might give you strength with my mouth, and not keep back the comfort of my lips.

If only my words might be recorded! if they might be put in writing in a book!

If only I had knowledge of where he might be seen, so that I might come even to his seat!

There an upright man might put his cause before him; and I would be free for ever from my judge.

If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!

I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?

For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.

For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;

So that the cry of the poor might come up to him, and the prayer of those in need come to his ears.

So that it might take a grip of the skirts of the earth, shaking all the evil-doers out of it?

So that you might take it to its limit, guiding it to its house?