Job 16

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are all of you all.

3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens you that you answer?

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 could speak as all of you do: if your soul were in my soul's position, I could heap up words against you, and 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 would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should subside your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?

Though I speak, my grief is not subsided: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.

But now he has made me weary: you have made desolate all my company.

8 And thou hast laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.

And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.

9 He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

He tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpens 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 have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.

I was at ease, but he has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13 His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

His archers compass me round about, he cleaves my reins asunder, and does not spare; he pours out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.

He breaks me with breach upon breach, he runs upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting]-place.

O earth, cover not you my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

20 My friends scoff at me: [But] mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

My friends scorn me: but mine eye pours 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 plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbour!

22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.