Job 16
1 But Job answered and said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all!
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, that thou answerest?
Shall vain words have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
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 speak as ye do; if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join words together against you, and shake mine 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 solace of my lips should assuage [your grief].
6 If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
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 laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth 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.
He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; he hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon 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 have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: they gather themselves together against me.
11 God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And delivered me into the hands of the wicked.
God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me 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, and he brake me asunder; yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: he hath also set me up for his 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 compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He rusheth upon me like a warrior.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, And upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Yet is there no injustice in my bands. And my prayer hath been pure.
Although there is no violence in mine hands, 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, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no [resting] place.
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 heaven, and he that coucheth for me is on high.
20 My friends have me in derision, But my eye poureth out tears unto God.
My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
21 O that one might contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbor!
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbour!
22 For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
