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 heard many such things: miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?
Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens you that you answer?
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 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.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.
6 Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
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: you have made desolate all my company.
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.
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.
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 tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes on me with his teeth; my enemy sharpens his eyes on me.
10 They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
They have gaped on me with their mouth; they have smitten me on the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down into the hands of the wicked.
God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over 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 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.
13 His archers encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;
His archers compass me round about, he splits my reins asunder, and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
He breaks me with breach on breach, he runs on me like a giant.
15 Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
Not for any injustice in my hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.
O earth, cover not you my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
My friends scorn me: but my eye pours out tears to God.
21 And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!
22 For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way from where I shall not return.
