Job 16
1 Then Job answered, and said:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.
I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
3 Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?
Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?
4 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.
I also could well speak as ye do: if your soul were but in my soul's stead, I could overwhelm you with words, and could shake my head at you.
5 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].
6 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.
Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
7 But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony to my face.
9 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.
In his wrath he teareth me to pieces, and assaileth me: he gnasheth over me with his teeth; my adversary sendeth threatening looks at me.
10 They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.
They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
11 God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down into the hands of the wicked.
12 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.
I was at ease, but he hath crushed me; he hath also grasped me by the neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up unto himself as a mark;
13 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.
His archers encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;
14 He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.
He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
15 I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.
Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
16 My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.
My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
17 These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.
Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.
Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.
19 For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.
Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.
20 My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.
Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
21 And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!
And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!
22 For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.
For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
