Job 16
1 Then Job answered and said,
And Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are you all.
I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens you that you answer?
Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as you do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.
I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.
[But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he has made me weary: you have made desolate all my company.
But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;
8 And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.
Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.
9 He tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes on me with his teeth; my enemy sharpens his eyes on me.
His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth; they have smitten me on the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.
11 God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but he has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 His archers compass me round about, he splits my reins asunder, and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
His arrows encompass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaks me with breach on breach, he runs on me like a giant.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for any injustice in my hands: also my prayer is pure.
Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not you my blood, and let my cry have no place.
O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.
20 My friends scorn me: but my eye pours out tears to God.
My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!
Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way from where I shall not return.
For years [few] in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
