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; you are all miserable comforters.
3 Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?
Will useless words ever have an end? What is wrong with you that you answer like this?
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 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 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.
I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the quivering of my lips will bring you relief!
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.
If I speak, my grief is not lessened; if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?
7 But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.
But now, God, you have made me weary; you have made all my family desolate.
8 My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.
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 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.
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 have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.
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 shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered 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 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 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 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 surround me all around; God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; he pours out my bile on the ground.
14 He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.
He smashes through my wall again and again; he runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.
I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; I have thrust my horn into the ground.
16 My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.
My face is red with weeping; 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 my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.
Earth, do not cover up my blood; 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, see, my witness is in heaven; he who vouches for me is on high.
20 My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.
My friends scoff at me, but my eye pours out tears to God.
21 And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!
I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does with his neighbor!
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 have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.
