Job 16
1 Then Job answered, and said,
But Job answered and said:
2 I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all.
Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all!
3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?
Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, 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.
I also might speak like you, If ye were now in my place; I might string together words 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.
I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should sustain you.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged, and though I forbear, what am I eased?
If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
7 But now he has made me weary. Thou have made desolate all my company.
For now He hath quite exhausted me; Thou hast desolated all my house!
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.
Thou hast seized hold of me, and this is a witness against me; My leanness riseth up and testifieth against me to 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 anger teareth my flesh, and pursueth me; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; My adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon 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 gape for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.
11 God delivers me to the perverse, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And delivered me into 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 at ease, but he hath crushed me; He hath seized me by the neck, and dashed me in pieces; He hath set me up for his mark.
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 encompass me around; He pierceth my reins, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaks me with breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a giant.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He rusheth upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, and the shadow of death is on my eyelids,
My face is red with weeping, And upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Yet is there no injustice in my bands. And my prayer hath been pure.
18 O earth, do not cover thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting place.
O earth! cover not thou my blood, And let there be no hiding-place for my cry!
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who vouches for me is on high.
Yet even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he who knoweth me is on high.
20 My friends scoff at me. My eye pours out tears to God
My friends have me in derision, But my eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbor!
O that one might contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbor!
22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way where I shall not return.
For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
