Job 16
1 And Job answered and said,
But Job answered and said:
2 I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all!
3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, 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 might speak like you, If ye were now in my place; I might string together words 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].
I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should sustain you.
6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
7 But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;
For now He hath quite exhausted me; Thou hast desolated all my house!
8 Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.
Thou hast seized hold of me, and this is a witness against me; My leanness riseth up and testifieth against me 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.
His anger teareth my flesh, and pursueth me; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; My adversary 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 gape for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.
11 God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And 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 was at ease, but he hath crushed me; He hath seized me by the neck, and dashed me in pieces; He hath 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 around; He pierceth my reins, 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 rusheth upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into 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 upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Yet is there no injustice in my bands. And my prayer hath been 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 there be no hiding-place for my cry!
19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.
Yet even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he who knoweth me is on high.
20 My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
My friends have me in derision, But my 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 contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth 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 shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
