Job 16

1 And Job answers and says:

Then Job answered,

2 “I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] you all.

“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!

3 Is there an end to words of wind? Or what emboldens you that you answer?

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you 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 speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, 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. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

6 If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease—what goes from me?

“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 Only, now, it has wearied me; You have desolated all my company,

But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.

8 And You loathe me, For it has been a witness, And my failure rises up against me, It testifies in my face.

You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies 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 has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on 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 on me with their mouth. They have struck me on 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 delivers me to the ungodly, and casts 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 broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

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 surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.

14 He breaks me—breach on breach, He runs on me as a mighty one.

He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have rolled my horn in the dust.

I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust 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. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,

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.

“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

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. He who vouches for me is on high.

20 My interpreter [is] my friend, My eye has dropped to God;

My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to 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, of a son of man with his neighbour!

22 When a few years come, Then I go [on] the path of no return.”

For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.