Job 16
1 But Job answered and said:
Then Job answered:
2 Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all!
“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.
3 Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, that thou answerest?
Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?
4 I also might speak like you, If ye were now in my place; I might string together words 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 I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should sustain you.
But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
6 If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?
7 For now He hath quite exhausted me; Thou hast desolated all my house!
Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.
8 Thou hast seized hold of me, and this is a witness against me; My leanness riseth up and testifieth against me to my face.
You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.
9 His anger teareth my flesh, and pursueth me; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; My adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.
10 They gape for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.
They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.
11 God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And delivered 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, but he hath crushed me; He hath seized me by the neck, and dashed me in pieces; He hath set me up for his mark.
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 encompass me around; He pierceth my reins, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He rusheth upon me like a warrior.
He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into the dust.
I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, And upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
17 Yet is there no injustice in my bands. And my prayer hath been pure.
yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth! cover not thou my blood, And let there be no hiding-place for my cry!
O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
19 Yet even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he who knoweth me is on high.
Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
20 My friends have me in derision, But my eye poureth out tears unto God.
My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
21 O that one might contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbor!
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!
22 For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.
