Job 16
1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,
And Job answers and says:
2 I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
“I have heard many such things, 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 an end to words of wind? Or what emboldens you that you answer?
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, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul’s stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.
5 But I woulde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.
I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.
6 Though I speake, my sorow can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?
If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease—what goes from me?
7 But now hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my congregation desolate,
Only, now, it has wearied me; You have desolated all my company,
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.
And You loathe me, For it has been a witness, And my failure rises up against me, It testifies in my face.
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, and He hates me, He has gnashed at me with His teeth, My adversary sharpens His eyes for me.
10 They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.
They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have struck my cheeks, Together they set themselves 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 shuts me up to the perverse, And turns me over to 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 have been at ease, and He breaks me, And He has laid hold on my neck, And He breaks me in pieces, And He raises me to Him for a mark.
13 His archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, and powreth my gall vpon the ground.
His archers go around against me. He split my reins, and does not spare, He pours out my gall to the earth.
14 He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.
He breaks me—breach on breach, He runs on me as a mighty one.
15 I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine horne vnto the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have rolled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,
My face is foul with weeping, And on my eyelids [is] death-shade.
17 Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.
Not for violence in my hands, 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! And let there not be a place for my cry.
19 For lo, now my witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.
Also, now, behold, my witness [is] in the heavens, And my testifier in the high places.
20 My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.
My interpreter [is] my friend, My eye has dropped to God;
21 Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!
And He reasons for a man with God, As a son of man for his friend.
22 For the yeeres accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not returne.
When a few years come, Then I go [on] the path of no return.”
