Job 16

1 But Job answered and said,

Then answered Job, and said,

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

I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.

3 What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder thee from answering?

Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?

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 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 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 condolence of my lips should restrain [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 were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?

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 filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony 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.

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 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 now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.

11 For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.

God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down 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, 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 They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon 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 They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.

He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.

15 They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.

Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.

16 My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.

My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:

17 Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.

18 Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.

Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.

19 And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.

20 Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.

Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].

21 Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbor!

And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!

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 the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.