Job 16
1 But Job answered and said,
And Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: poor comforters are you all.
I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
3 What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder you from answering?
Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I also will speak as you [do]: if indeed your soul were in my [soul's] stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would 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 And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.
[But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
6 For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?
If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and you have laid hold of me.
But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;
8 My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me 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 In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.
His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.
10 He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp [spear] he has struck me [down] upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.
They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.
11 For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.
God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.
12 When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a 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 They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon 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 They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.
15 They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.
16 My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.
My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.
O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!
19 And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.
20 Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.
My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbor!
Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!
22 But my years are numbered and [their end] come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.
For years [few] in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
