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 emboldeneth 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 heap up 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 strengthen you with my mouth and the moving of my lips should 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 filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness rising up in me 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.
He teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; my enemy 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 have gathered themselves against me.
11 God shuts me up to the perverse, And turns me over to the hands of the wicked.
God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over 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 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 go around against me. He split my reins, and does not spare, He pours out my gall to the earth.
His archers encompass me; 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 defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, And on my eyelids [is] death-shade.
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids [are] the shades of death;
17 Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer [is] pure.
Not for [any] injustice in my hands: also 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 place.
19 Also, now, behold, my witness [is] in the heavens, And my testifier in the high places.
Also now, behold, my witness [is] in heaven, and my record [is] on high.
20 My interpreter [is] my friend, My eye has dropped to God;
My friends scorn me: [but] my eye poureth out [tears] to God.
21 And He reasons for a man with God, As a son of man for his friend.
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbor!
22 When a few years come, Then I go [on] the path of no return.”
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
