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; you are all miserable comforters.
3 Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, that thou answerest?
Will useless words ever have an end? What is wrong with you that you answer like this?
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 you do, if you were in my place; I could collect and join words together against you and shake my head at you in mockery.
5 I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should sustain you.
I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the quivering of my lips will bring you relief!
6 If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
If I speak, my grief is not lessened; if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?
7 For now He hath quite exhausted me; Thou hast desolated all my house!
But now, God, you have made me weary; you have made all my family desolate.
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 made me dry up, which itself is a witness against me; the leanness of my body rises up against me, and it testifies against 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.
God has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me; He grinds his teeth in rage; my enemy fastens his eyes on me as he tears me apart.
10 They gape for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.
People have gaped with open mouth at me; they have hit me reproachfully on the cheek; they have gathered together against me.
11 God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And delivered me into the hands of the wicked.
God hands me over to ungodly people, and throws me into the hands of wicked people.
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 broke me apart. Indeed, he has taken me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he has also 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 all around; God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; he pours out my bile on the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He rusheth upon me like a warrior.
He smashes through my wall again and again; he runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into the dust.
I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; I have thrust my horn into the ground.
16 My face is red with weeping, And upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
My face is red with weeping; 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 my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth! cover not thou my blood, And let there be no hiding-place for my cry!
Earth, do not cover up my blood; 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, see, my witness is in heaven; he who vouches for me is on high.
20 My friends have me in derision, But my eye poureth out tears unto God.
My friends scoff at me, but my eye pours out tears to God.
21 O that one might contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbor!
I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does with his neighbor!
22 For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
For when a few years have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.
