Job 16
1 And Job answered and said,
And Job answers and says:
2 I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
“I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] you all.
3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
Is there an end to words of wind? Or what emboldens you that you 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, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul’s stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.
5 [But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.
6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease—what goes from me?
7 But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;
Only, now, it has wearied me; You have desolated 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 You loathe me, For it has been a witness, And my failure rises up against me, It testifies in 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.
His anger has torn, and He hates me, He has gnashed at me with His teeth, My adversary sharpens His eyes for me.
10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.
They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have struck my cheeks, Together they set themselves against me.
11 God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.
God shuts me up to the perverse, And turns me over to 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 have been at ease, and He breaks me, And He has laid hold on my neck, And He breaks me in pieces, And He raises me to Him for a 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 go around against me. He split my reins, and does not spare, He pours out my gall to the earth.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.
He breaks me—breach on breach, He runs on me as a mighty one.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have rolled 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] death-shade.
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Not for 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 my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.
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 the heavens, And my testifier in the high places.
20 My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
My interpreter [is] my friend, My eye has dropped to God;
21 Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!
And He reasons for a man with God, As a son of man for his friend.
22 For years [few] in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
When a few years come, Then I go [on] the path of no return.”
