Job 16
1 And Job answers and says:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] you all.
I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
3 Is there an end to words of wind? Or what emboldens you that you answer?
Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?
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 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.
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 condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].
6 If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease—what goes from me?
Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
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 filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony 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.
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.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have struck my cheeks, Together they set themselves against me.
They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
11 God shuts me up to the perverse, And turns me over to the hands of the wicked.
God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down 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, 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;
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 encompass me round about; he cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;
14 He breaks me—breach on breach, He runs on me as a mighty one.
He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have rolled my horn in the dust.
Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, And on my eyelids [is] death-shade.
My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
17 Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer [is] pure.
Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, do not cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.
Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain 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 one that testifieth for me is on high.
20 My interpreter [is] my friend, My eye has dropped to God;
Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
21 And He reasons for a man with God, As a son of man for his friend.
And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!
22 When a few years come, Then I go [on] the path of no return.”
For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
