Job 16
1 Then Job answered,
And Job answered and said,
2 “I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,
I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;
5 but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
[But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
6 “Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.
But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;
8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.
Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.
9 He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.
10 They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.
11 God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
His arrows encompass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
My face is red 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.
Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 “Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.
20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbour!
Oh that there were arbitration for a man with God, as a son of man for his friend!
22 For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.
For years [few] in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
