Job 16
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “I have heard many such things; you are all miserable comforters.
I have heard many things such as these: troublesome comforters are ye all.
3 Will useless words ever have an end? What is wrong with you that you answer like this?
Shall there be any end to words of wind? or what compelleth thee that thou shouldst 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 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 quivering of my lips will bring you relief!
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 lessened; if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?
Though I were to speak, my pain would not be restrained; and though I should forbear, what will go away from me?
7 But now, God, you have made me weary; you have made all my family desolate.
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast 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 hast filled me with wrinkles, they are my witnesses; and my leanness riseth up for me, giveth its testimony 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.
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 People have gaped with open mouth at me; they have hit me reproachfully on the cheek; they have gathered together against me.
They now open wide against me their mouth; reproachfully they smite my cheek: altogether do they assemble against me.
11 God hands me over to ungodly people, and throws me into the hands of wicked people.
God hath surrendered me to the unjust, and cast me down 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 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 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 cleaveth my reins sunder, and doth not pity; he poureth out upon the ground my gall;
14 He smashes through my wall again and again; he runs upon me like a warrior.
He breaketh me down with breach upon breach; he runneth against me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; I have thrust my horn into the ground.
Sackcloth have I sewed upon my skin, and my horn I roll in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping; on my eyelids is the shadow of death
My face gloweth from weeping, and on my eyelids resteth the shadow of death:
17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Not because any violence is in my hands, and while my prayer is pure.
18 Earth, do not cover up my blood; let my cry have no resting place.
Earth! do thou not cover up my blood, and let no place restrain my cry.
19 Even now, see, my witness is in heaven; he who vouches for 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 scoff at me, but my eye pours out tears to God.
Are my friends my defenders? unto God my eye poureth out [its tears].
21 I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does 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 have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.
For when the numbered years are passed, then must I travel a path whence I cannot return.
