Job 16
1 But Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: poor comforters are ye all.
I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.
3 What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder thee from answering?
Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I also will speak as ye [do]: if indeed your soul were in my [soul's] stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would 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 my head at you.
5 And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.
[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].
6 For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?
Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and thou hast laid hold of me.
But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.
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 In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.
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 He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp [spear] he has smitten me [down] upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.
11 For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.
God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
12 When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.
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 They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon 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 They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
15 They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.
16 My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.
My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
18 Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting]-place.
19 And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.
20 Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.
My friends scoff at me: [But] mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
21 Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbor!
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!
22 But my years are numbered and [their end] come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
