Job 16
1 Then Job answered,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?
4 I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,
I also could well speak as ye do: if your soul were but in my soul's stead, I could overwhelm you with words, and could shake my head at you.
5 but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].
6 “Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony to my face.
9 He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
In his wrath he teareth me to pieces, and assaileth me: he gnasheth over me with his teeth; my adversary sendeth threatening looks at me.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
11 God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
I was at ease, but he hath crushed me; he hath also grasped me by the neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up unto himself as a mark;
13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
His archers encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;
14 He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.
He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
18 “Earth, do not cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.
20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!
22 For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.
For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
