Job 16
1 But Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: poor comforters are you all.
“I have heard many such things; you are all miserable comforters.
3 What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder you from answering?
Will useless words ever have an end? What is wrong with you that you answer like this?
4 I also will speak as you [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 you do, if you were in my place; I could collect and join words together against you and shake my head at you in mockery.
5 And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.
I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the quivering of my lips will bring you relief!
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?
If I speak, my grief is not lessened; if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?
7 But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and you have laid hold of me.
But now, God, you have made me weary; you have made all my family desolate.
8 My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.
You have made me dry up, which itself is a witness against me; the leanness of my body rises up against me, and it testifies against 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.
God has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me; He grinds his teeth in rage; my enemy fastens his eyes on me as he tears me apart.
10 He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp [spear] he has struck me [down] upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.
People have gaped with open mouth at me; they have hit me reproachfully on the cheek; they have gathered together against me.
11 For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.
God hands me over to ungodly people, and throws me into the hands of wicked people.
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 broke me apart. Indeed, he has taken me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he has also set me up as his target.
13 They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon the ground.
His archers surround me all around; God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; he pours out my bile on the ground.
14 They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.
He smashes through my wall again and again; he runs upon me like a warrior.
15 They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.
I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; I have thrust my horn into the ground.
16 My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.
My face is red with weeping; 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.
Earth, do not cover up my blood; let my cry have no resting place.
19 And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
Even now, see, my witness is in heaven; he who vouches 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 my eye pours out tears to God.
21 Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbour!
I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does 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 have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.
