Job 16

1 And Job answered and said,

Then Job answered, and said,

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

I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?

4 I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together 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 my head at you.

5 [But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?

Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged, and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;

But now he has made me weary. Thou have made desolate all my company.

8 Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.

And thou have laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me. And my leanness rises up against me; it testifies to my face.

9 His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.

He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed upon me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes upon me.

10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves 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 hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.

God delivers me to the perverse, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yea, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his mark.

13 His arrows encompass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

His archers encompass me round about. He splits my reins apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall upon the ground.

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

He breaks me with breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled 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 on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

My face is red with weeping, and the shadow of death is on my eyelids,

17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!

O earth, do not cover thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting place.

19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who vouches for me is on high.

20 My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

My friends scoff at me. My eye pours out tears to God

21 Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbor!

22 For years [few] in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.

For when a few years are come, I shall go the way where I shall not return.