Job 16

1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,

Then Job answered, and said:

2 I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.

3 Shall there be none ende of wordes of winde? or what maketh thee bold so to answere?

Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?

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 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.

5 But I woulde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.

I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.

6 Though I speake, my sorow can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?

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.

7 But now hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my congregation desolate,

But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.

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.

My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting 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.

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.

10 They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.

They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.

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 hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands 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 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.

13 His archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, and powreth my gall vpon the ground.

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.

14 He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.

He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.

15 I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine horne vnto the dust.

I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.

16 My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,

My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.

17 Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.

These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.

18 O earth, couer not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no place.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.

19 For lo, now my witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.

For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.

20 My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.

My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.

21 Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!

And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!

22 For the yeeres accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not returne.

For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.