Job 16
1 And Job answers and says:
And Job answered and said,
2 “I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] you all.
I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
3 Is there an end to words of wind? Or what emboldens you that you answer?
Shall words of wind 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: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words 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 encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
6 If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease—what goes from me?
If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if 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 family;
8 And You loathe me, For it has been a witness, And my failure rises up against me, It testifies in my face.
Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness 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.
His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have struck my cheeks, Together they set themselves against me.
They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.
11 God shuts me up to the perverse, And turns me over to the hands of the wicked.
God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled 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 rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and 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 arrows encompass 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 mighty man.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have rolled my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled 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 my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!
19 Also, now, behold, my witness [is] in the heavens, And my testifier in the high places.
Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.
20 My interpreter [is] my friend, My eye has dropped to God;
My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 And He reasons for a man with God, As a son of man for his friend.
Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!
22 When a few years come, Then I go [on] the path of no return.”
For years [few] in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
