Job 16
1 But Job answered and said:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all!
I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
3 Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, that thou answerest?
Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst answer?
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 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 would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should sustain you.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the condolence of my lips should restrain [your grief].
6 If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
7 For now He hath quite exhausted me; Thou hast desolated all my house!
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
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.
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 teareth my flesh, and pursueth me; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; My adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon 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 gape for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.
They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
11 God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And delivered me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down into the hands 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 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 encompass me around; He pierceth my reins, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
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 breaketh me with breach upon breach; He rusheth upon me like a warrior.
He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into the dust.
Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, And upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
17 Yet is there no injustice in my bands. And my prayer hath been pure.
Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
18 O earth! cover not thou my blood, And let there be no hiding-place for my cry!
Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.
19 Yet even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he who knoweth me is on high.
Even now, behold, my witness is in the heavens, and one that testifieth for me is on high.
20 My friends have me in derision, But my eye poureth out tears unto God.
Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
21 O that one might contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbor!
And oh that a man might plead with God, as one son of earth with the other!
22 For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
