2 “I have heard many things like these;

you are miserable comforters, all of you!

3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?

What ails you that you keep on arguing?

4 I also could speak like you,

if you were in my place;

I could make fine speeches against you

and shake my head at you.

5 But my mouth would encourage you;

comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;

and if I refrain, it does not go away.

2 I have heard many such things:

Miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Shall vain words have an end?

Or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

4 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.

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged:

And though I forbear, what am I eased?

2 “I have heard all this before.

What miserable comforters you are!

3 Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air?

What makes you keep on talking?

4 I could say the same things if you were in my place.

I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.

5 But if it were me, I would encourage you.

I would try to take away your grief.

6 Instead, I suffer if I defend myself,

and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.

2 “I have heard many such things;

Miserable comforters are you all!

3 Shall words of wind have an end?

Or what provokes you that you answer?

4 I also could speak as you do,

If your soul were in my soul’s place.

I could heap up words against you,

And shake my head at you;

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.

6 “Though I speak, my grief is not relieved;

And if I remain silent, how am I eased?

2 “I have heard many things like these.

You are all painful comforters!

3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?

What makes you keep on arguing?

4 I also could speak as you do

if you were in my place.

I could make great speeches against you

and shake my head at you.

5 But, instead, I would encourage you,

and my words would bring you relief.

6 “Even if I speak, my pain is not less,

and if I don’t speak, it still does not go away.

2 I have heard many such things:

Miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Shall vain words have an end?

Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

4 I also could speak as ye do;

If your soul were in my soul’s stead,

I could join words together against you,

And shake my head at you.

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged;

And though I forbear, what am I eased?

2 I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all. 3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest? 4 I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you; 5 But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage your pain.

6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?

2 “I have heard many things like this before. 

You are all pathetic at comforting me. 

3 Will ⸤your⸥ long-winded speeches never end? 

What disturbs you that you keep on answering ⸤me⸥? 

4 I, too, could speak like you 

if we could trade places. 

I could string words together against you 

and shake my head at you. 

5 I could encourage you with my mouth, 

and my quivering lips could ease ⸤your pain⸥. 

6 If I speak, my pain is not eased. 

If I stop talking, how much of it will go away? 

2 I have heard many things like these.

You are all miserable comforters.

3 Is there no end to your empty words?

What provokes you that you continue testifying?

4 If you were in my place I could also talk like you.

I could string words together against you

and shake my head at you.

5 Instead, I would encourage you with my mouth,

and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.

6 Even if I speak, my suffering is not relieved,

and if I hold back, what have I lost?

2 “I have heard many such things;

miserable comforters are you all.

3 Have windy words no limit?

Or what provokes you that you keep on talking?

4 I also could talk as you do,

if you were in my place;

I could join words together against you,

and shake my head at you.

5 I could encourage you with my mouth,

and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.

6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,

and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?

2 “I have heard many things like these;

all of you are miserable comforters.

3 Is there a limit to windy words?

What provokes you that you answer?

4 I myself also could talk as you,

if you were in my place;

I could join against you with words,

and I could shake at you with my head.

5 I could encourage you with my mouth,

and the solace of my lips would ease the pain.

6 If I speak, my pain is not relieved;

and if I cease, how much will leave me?

2 “I’ve heard many of those things before.

You are terrible at comforting me!

3 Your speeches go on forever.

Won’t they ever end?

What’s wrong with you?

Why do you keep on arguing?

4 If you and I changed places,

I could say the same things you are saying.

I could make fine speeches against you.

I could shake my head at you.

5 But what I might say would give you hope.

My words of comfort would help you.

6 “If I speak, it doesn’t help me.

And if I keep quiet, my pain doesn’t go away.

2 “I have heard many such things;

Sorry comforters are you all.

3 “Is there no limit to windy words?

Or what plagues you that you answer?

4 “I too could speak like you,

If I were in your place.

I could compose words against you

And shake my head at you.

5 “I could strengthen you with my mouth,

And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.

6 “If I speak, my pain is not lessened,

And if I hold back, what has left me?