Job 16
1 But Job answered and said,
Then Job answered,
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?
Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
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 your soul were in my soul’s place, 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. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
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 subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
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 surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.
8 My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.
You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies 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 has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
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.
They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on 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 delivers me to the ungodly, and casts 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 broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for 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. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
14 They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.
He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.
15 They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.
I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust 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. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
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, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
19 And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
Even now, behold, 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. My eyes pour out tears to God,
21 Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbour!
that he would maintain the right of a man with God, 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 have come, I will go the way of no return.
