< Job 16 >
1 Then Job answered, and said,
Bvt Iob answered, and said,
2 I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all.
I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?
Shall there be none ende of wordes of winde? or what maketh thee bold so to answere?
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.
I could also speake as yee doe: (but woulde God your soule were in my soules stead) I could keepe you company in speaking, and could shake mine head at you,
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.
But I woulde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged, and though I forbear, what am I eased?
Though I speake, my sorow can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?
7 But now he has made me weary. Thou have made desolate all my company.
But now hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my congregation desolate,
8 And thou have laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me. And my leanness rises up against me; it testifies to my face.
And hast made me full of wrinkles which is a witnesse thereof, and my leannes ryseth vp in me, testifying the same in my face.
9 He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed upon me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes upon me.
His wrath hath torne me, and hee hateth me, and gnasheth vpon mee with his teeth: mine enemie hath sharpened his eyes against me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth. They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.
11 God delivers me to the perverse, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath deliuered me to the vniust, and hath made mee to turne out of the way by the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yea, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his mark.
I was in welth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set me as a marke for himselfe.
13 His archers encompass me round about. He splits my reins apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall upon the ground.
His archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, and powreth my gall vpon the ground.
14 He breaks me with breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a giant.
He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine horne vnto the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, and the shadow of death is on my eyelids,
My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,
17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.
18 O earth, do not cover thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting place.
O earth, couer not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no place.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who vouches for me is on high.
For lo, now my witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.
20 My friends scoff at me. My eye pours out tears to God
My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.
21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbor!
Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!
22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way where I shall not return.
For the yeeres accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not returne.