Job 16
1 Then Job answered:
Then Job answered and said,
2 “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?
Shall vain words have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.
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 mine head at you.
5 But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your grief].
6 Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?
Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.
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.
9 His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.
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.
10 They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: they gather themselves together against me.
11 God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.
God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;
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.
13 His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.
His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.
Although there is no violence in mine hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no [resting] place.
19 Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he that coucheth for me is on high.
20 My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
21 Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbour!
22 For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
