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] ye 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 emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
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 ye [do: ] if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine 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 asswage [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 asswaged: 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 hath made me weary: thou hast 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 thou hast filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me: ] and my leanness rising up in me beareth 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 teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon 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 hath 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 hath broken me asunder: he hath 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 cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon 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 mine 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 thou 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] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto 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 [pleadeth] for his neighbour!
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 [whence] I shall not return.
