Job 16
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are ye all.
“I have heard many such things; you are all miserable comforters.
3 Shall windy words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
Will useless words ever have an end? What is wrong with you that you answer like this?
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 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 the moving of my lips would assuage your grief.
I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the quivering of my lips will bring you relief!
6 Though I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased?
If I speak, my grief is not lessened; if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?
7 But now He hath made me weary; Thou hast made desolate all my company.
But now, God, you have made me weary; you have made all my family desolate.
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.
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 torn me in His wrath, and hated me; He hath gnashed upon me with His teeth; mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
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 gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek scornfully; they gather themselves together against me.
People have gaped with open mouth at me; they have hit me reproachfully on the cheek; they have gathered together against me.
11 God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth 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 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, 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 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 surround me all around; God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; he pours out my bile on the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
He smashes through my wall again and again; he runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; I have thrust my horn into the ground.
16 My face is reddened with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
My face is red with weeping; on my eyelids is the shadow of death
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place.
Earth, do not cover up my blood; let my cry have no resting place.
19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He that testifieth of me is on high.
Even now, see, my witness is in heaven; he who vouches for me is on high.
20 Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors, mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
My friends scoff at me, but my eye pours out tears to God.
21 That He would set aright a man contending with God, as a son of man setteth aright his neighbour!
I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does with his neighbor!
22 For the years that are few are coming on, and I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
For when a few years have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.
