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 often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.
3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?
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 like you: and would God your soul were for my soul. I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.
5 [But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.
6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.
7 But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;
But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.
8 Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.
My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.
9 His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.
He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes.
10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.
They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.
11 God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered 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 that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be 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.
He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.
He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.
I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.
16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.
18 O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!
O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.
19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.
For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.
20 My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.
21 Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!
And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!
22 For years [few] in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.
