Job 16
1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,
Then Job answered:
2 I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall there be none ende of wordes of winde? or what maketh thee bold so to answere?
Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?
4 I could also speake as yee doe: (but woulde God your soule were in my soules stead) I could keepe you company in speaking, and could shake mine head at you,
I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.
5 But I woulde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.
But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
6 Though I speake, my sorow can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?
Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?
7 But now hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my congregation desolate,
Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.
8 And hast made me full of wrinkles which is a witnesse thereof, and my leannes ryseth vp in me, testifying the same in my face.
You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.
9 His wrath hath torne me, and hee hateth me, and gnasheth vpon mee with his teeth: mine enemie hath sharpened his eyes against me.
His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.
10 They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.
They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
11 God hath deliuered me to the vniust, and hath made mee to turne out of the way by the hands of the wicked.
God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.
12 I was in welth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set me as a marke for himselfe.
I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;
13 His archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, and powreth my gall vpon the ground.
His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.
14 He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.
He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.
15 I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine horne vnto the dust.
I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.
16 My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,
My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
17 Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.
yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, couer not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no place.
O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
19 For lo, now my witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.
Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
20 My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
21 Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!
22 For the yeeres accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not returne.
For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.
