Job 16
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are ye all.
I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
3 Shall windy words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?
4 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 my head at you.
I also could well speak as ye do: if your soul were but in my soul's stead, I could overwhelm you with words, and could shake my head at you.
5 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips would assuage your grief.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].
6 Though I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased?
Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
7 But now He hath made me weary; Thou hast made desolate all my company.
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 And Thou hast shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to my face.
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony to my face.
9 He hath torn me in His wrath, and hated me; He hath gnashed upon me with His teeth; mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
In his wrath he teareth me to pieces, and assaileth me: he gnasheth over me with his teeth; my adversary sendeth threatening looks at me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek scornfully; they gather themselves together against me.
They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
11 God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and He broke me asunder; yea, He hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces; He hath also set me up for His mark.
I was at ease, but he hath crushed me; he hath also grasped me by the neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up unto himself as a mark;
13 His archers compass me round about, He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
His archers encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
16 My face is reddened with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place.
Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.
19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He that testifieth of me is on high.
Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.
20 Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors, mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
21 That He would set aright a man contending with God, as a son of man setteth aright his neighbour!
And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!
22 For the years that are few are coming on, and I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
