Job 16

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered, and said,

2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters [are] ye all.

I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?

4 I also could speak as ye [do: ] if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

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.

5 [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage [your grief].

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and [though] I forbear, what am I eased?

Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged, and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

But now he has made me weary. Thou have made desolate all my company.

8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me: ] and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

And thou have laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me. And my leanness rises up against me; it testifies to my face.

9 He teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed upon me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes upon me.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

They have gaped upon me with their mouth. They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

God delivers me to the perverse, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken [me] by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yea, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his 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 splits my reins apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

He breaks me with breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid 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 the shadow of death is on my eyelids,

17 Not for [any] injustice in mine hands: also 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 place.

O earth, do not cover thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting place.

19 Also now, behold, my witness [is] in heaven, and my record [is] on high.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who vouches for me is on high.

20 My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God.

My friends scoff at me. My eye pours out tears to God

21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbour!

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbor!

22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.

For when a few years are come, I shall go the way where I shall not return.