Job 16

1 Then answered Job, and said,

Then Job answered, and said:

2 I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.

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

3 Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?

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

4 I also could well speak as ye do: if your soul were but in my soul's stead, I could overwhelm you with words, and could 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 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].

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

6 Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?

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 hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

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

8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony to my face.

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

9 In his wrath he teareth me to pieces, and assaileth me: he gnasheth over me with his teeth; my adversary sendeth threatening looks at 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 They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.

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

11 God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down into the hands of the wicked.

God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but he hath crushed me; he hath also grasped me by the neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up unto himself 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 His archers encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;

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 He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.

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

15 Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.

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

16 My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:

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

17 Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.

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

18 Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.

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

19 Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.

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

20 Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].

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

21 And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!

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

22 For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.

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