Job 16
1 Then Job answered, and said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?
Shall vain words have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
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 speak as ye do; if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join words together against you, and shake mine 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 solace of my lips should assuage [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 speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
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 laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth 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.
He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; he hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon 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 have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: they gather themselves together against me.
11 God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.
God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me 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, and he brake me asunder; yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: he hath also set me up for his 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 compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
16 My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.
Although there is no violence in mine hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no [resting] place.
19 For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he that coucheth for me is on high.
20 My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.
My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
21 And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbour!
22 For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
