Job 16

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered, and said,

2 “I have heard many such things; you are all miserable comforters.

I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Will useless words ever have an end? What is wrong with you that you answer like this?

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?

4 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.

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 my head at you.

5 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the quivering of my lips will bring you relief!

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

6 If I speak, my grief is not lessened; if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?

Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged, and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now, God, you have made me weary; you have made all my family desolate.

But now he has made me weary. Thou have made desolate all my company.

8 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.

And thou have laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me. And my leanness rises up against me; it testifies to my face.

9 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.

He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed upon me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes upon me.

10 People have gaped with open mouth at me; they have hit me reproachfully on the cheek; they have gathered together 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 hands me over to ungodly people, and throws me into the hands of wicked people.

God delivers me to the perverse, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12 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.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yea, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his mark.

13 His archers surround me all around; God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; he pours out my bile on the ground.

His archers encompass me round about. He splits my reins apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall upon the ground.

14 He smashes through my wall again and again; he runs upon me like a warrior.

He breaks me with breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; I have thrust my horn into the ground.

I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping; on my eyelids is the shadow of death

My face is red with weeping, and the shadow of death is on my eyelids,

17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

18 Earth, do not cover up my blood; let my cry have no resting place.

O earth, do not cover thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting place.

19 Even now, see, my witness is in heaven; he who vouches for me is on high.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who vouches for me is on high.

20 My friends scoff at me, but my eye pours out tears to God.

My friends scoff at me. My eye pours out tears to God

21 I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does with his neighbor!

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbor!

22 For when a few years have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.

For when a few years are come, I shall go the way where I shall not return.