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 emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

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 heap up words against you, and shake mine 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 moving of my lips should asswage [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 asswaged: 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 hath made me weary: thou hast 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 hast filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me: ] and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness 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 teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth 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 have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.

God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over 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, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken [me] by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and 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 compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

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

He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth 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 defiled my horn in the dust.

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

My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids [is] the shadow of death;

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

Not for [any] injustice in mine hands: also my prayer [is] pure.

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

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

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

Also now, behold, my witness [is] in heaven, and my record [is] on high.

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

My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God.

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

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbour!

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

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.