Job 16

1 But Job answered and said,

Then Job answered, and said:

2 I have heard many such things: poor comforters are you all.

I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.

3 What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder you from answering?

Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?

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 like you: and would God your soul were for my soul. I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.

5 And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.

I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.

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?

But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.

7 But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and you have laid hold of me.

But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.

8 My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.

My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.

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.

He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes.

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 have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.

11 For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.

God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered 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 that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark.

13 They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon the ground.

He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth.

14 They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.

He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.

15 They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.

I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.

16 My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.

My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.

17 Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.

18 Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.

19 And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.

20 Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.

My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.

21 Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbor!

And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!

22 But my years are numbered and [their end] come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.

For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.