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 all of you 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 emboldens you that you 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 all of you do: if your soul were in my soul's position, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine 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 moving of my lips should subside 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 subsided: 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: you 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 you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness 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 tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes upon me with his teeth; mine enemy 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 have gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hands me over to ungodly people, and throws me into the hands of wicked people.
God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over 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, but he has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and 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 compass me round about, he cleaves my reins asunder, 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 defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping; on my eyelids is the shadow of death
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 Earth, do not cover up my blood; let my cry have no resting place.
O earth, cover not you my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Even now, see, my witness is in heaven; he who vouches for me is on high.
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends scoff at me, but my eye pours out tears to God.
My friends scorn me: but mine eye pours out tears unto God.
21 I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does with his neighbor!
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbour!
22 For when a few years have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
