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; you are all miserable comforters.

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

Will useless words ever have an end? What is wrong with you that you answer like this?

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 you do, if you were in my place; I could collect and join words together against you and shake my head at you in mockery.

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 quivering of my lips will bring you relief!

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

If I speak, my grief is not lessened; if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?

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

But now, God, you have made me weary; you have made all my family desolate.

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

You have made me dry up, which itself is a witness against me; the leanness of my body rises up against me, and it testifies against 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.

God has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me; He grinds his teeth in rage; my enemy fastens his eyes on me as he tears me apart.

10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.

People have gaped with open mouth at me; they have hit me reproachfully on the cheek; they have gathered together against me.

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

God hands me over to ungodly people, and throws me into the hands of wicked people.

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. Indeed, he has taken me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he has also set me up as his target.

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 surround me all around; God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; he pours out my bile on the ground.

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

He smashes through my wall again and again; he runs upon me like a warrior.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.

I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; I have thrust my horn into the ground.

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

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

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!

Earth, do not cover up my blood; 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, see, my witness is in heaven; 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, but 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!

I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does 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 have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.