Job 16
1 Then Job answered,
But Job answered and said:
2 “I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
Of such things as these I have heard enough! Miserable comforters are ye all!
3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
Will there ever be an end to words of wind? What stirreth thee up, 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 might speak like you, If ye were now in my place; I might string 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.
I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the consolation of my lips should sustain you.
6 “Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
If I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And if I forbear, it doth not leave me.
7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.
For now He hath quite exhausted me; Thou hast desolated all my house!
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 seized hold of me, and this is a witness against me; My leanness riseth up and testifieth against me 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 my flesh, and pursueth me; He gnasheth upon me with his teeth; My adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon 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 for me with their mouths; In scorn they smite me on the cheek; With one consent they assemble against me.
11 God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
God hath given me a prey to the unrighteous, And delivered 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 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.
13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
His archers encompass me around; He pierceth my reins, 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 rusheth upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And thrust my horn into the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
My face is red with weeping, And upon my eyelids is deathlike darkness.
17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
Yet is there no injustice in my bands. And my prayer hath been pure.
18 “Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
O earth! cover not thou my blood, And let there be no hiding-place for my cry!
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
Yet even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he who knoweth me is on high.
20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
My friends have me in derision, But my 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!
O that one might contend for a man with God, As a man contendeth with his neighbor!
22 For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.
For when a few years shall have passed, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
