Job 16
1 Then Job answered,
Then Job answered:
2 "I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters.
“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?
4 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,
I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.
5 but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
6 "Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?
7 But now he has worn me out. You have laid waste all my company.
Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.
8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.
You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.
9 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.
His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
11 God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.
12 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.
I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;
13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.
His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.
He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.
My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.
18 "Earth, do not cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
19 Even now, look, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor.
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!
22 For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from where I shall not return.
For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.
