Job 16
1 And Job answers and says:
Then Job answered and said,
2 “I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] you all.
I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Is there an end to words of wind? Or what emboldens you that you answer?
Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul’s stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.
I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
5 I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.
[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].
6 If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease—what goes from me?
Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 Only, now, it has wearied me; You have desolated all my company,
But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 And You loathe me, For it has been a witness, And my failure rises up against me, It testifies in my face.
And thou hast laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.
9 His anger has torn, and He hates me, He has gnashed at me with His teeth, My adversary sharpens His eyes for me.
He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have struck my cheeks, Together they set themselves against me.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.
11 God shuts me up to the perverse, And turns me over to the hands of the wicked.
God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I have been at ease, and He breaks me, And He has laid hold on my neck, And He breaks me in pieces, And He raises me to Him for a mark.
I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.
13 His archers go around against me. He split my reins, and does not spare, He pours out my gall to the earth.
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 breaks me—breach on breach, He runs on me as a mighty one.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have rolled my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, And on my eyelids [is] death-shade.
My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer [is] pure.
Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, do not cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting]-place.
19 Also, now, behold, my witness [is] in the heavens, And my testifier in the high places.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.
20 My interpreter [is] my friend, My eye has dropped to God;
My friends scoff at me: [But] mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
21 And He reasons for a man with God, As a son of man for his friend.
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!
22 When a few years come, Then I go [on] the path of no return.”
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
