Job 16
1 Then answered Job, and said,
But Job answered and said:
2 I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all!
3 Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?
Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, 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 might speak like you, If ye were now in my place; I might string together 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].
I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should sustain you.
6 Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
For now He hath quite exhausted me; Thou hast desolated all my house!
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.
Thou hast seized hold of me, and this is a witness against me; My leanness riseth up and testifieth against me 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.
His anger teareth my flesh, and pursueth me; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; My adversary 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 gape for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.
11 God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down into the hands of the wicked.
God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And 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 was at ease, but he hath crushed me; He hath seized me by the neck, and dashed me in pieces; He hath 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 encompass me around; He pierceth my reins, 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 rusheth upon me like a warrior.
15 Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into the dust.
16 My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
My face is red with weeping, And upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
17 Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
Yet is there no injustice in my bands. And my prayer hath been 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 there be no hiding-place for my cry!
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.
Yet even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he who knoweth me is on high.
20 Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
My friends have me in derision, But my 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 contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbor!
22 For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
