Job 16

1 And Job answereth and saith: —

And Job answers and says:

2 I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] ye all.

“I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] you all.

3 Is there an end to words of wind? Or what doth embolden thee that thou answerest?

Is there an end to words of wind? Or what emboldens you that you answer?

4 I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul's stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.

I also, like you, might speak, If your soul were in my soul’s stead. I might join against you with words, And nod at you with my head.

5 I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.

I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.

6 If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease — what goeth from me?

If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease—what goes from me?

7 Only, now, it hath wearied me; Thou hast desolated all my company,

Only, now, it has wearied me; You have desolated all my company,

8 And Thou dost loathe me, For a witness it hath been, And rise up against me doth my failure, In my face it testifieth.

And You loathe me, For it has been a witness, And my failure rises up against me, It testifies in my face.

9 His anger hath torn, and he hateth me, He hath gnashed at me with his teeth, My adversary sharpeneth his eyes for me.

His anger has torn, and He hates me, He has gnashed at me with His teeth, My adversary sharpens His eyes for me.

10 They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have smitten my cheeks, Together against me they set themselves.

They have gaped on me with their mouth, In reproach they have struck my cheeks, Together they set themselves against me.

11 God shutteth me up unto the perverse, And to the hands of the wicked turneth me over.

God shuts me up to the perverse, And turns me over to the hands of the wicked.

12 At ease I have been, and he breaketh me, And he hath laid hold on my neck, And he breaketh me in pieces, And he raiseth me to him for a mark.

I have been at ease, and He breaks me, And He has laid hold on my neck, And He breaks me in pieces, And He raises me to Him for a mark.

13 Go round against me do his archers. He splitteth my reins, and spareth not, He poureth out to the earth my gall.

His archers go around against me. He split my reins, and does not spare, He pours out my gall to the earth.

14 He breaketh me — breach upon breach, He runneth upon me as a mighty one.

He breaks me—breach on breach, He runs on me as a mighty one.

15 Sackcloth I have sewed on my skin, And have rolled in the dust my horn.

I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, And have rolled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is foul with weeping, And on mine eyelids [is] death-shade.

My face is foul with weeping, And on my eyelids [is] death-shade.

17 Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer [is] pure.

Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer [is] pure.

18 O earth, do not thou cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.

O earth, do not cover my blood! And let there not be a place for my cry.

19 Also, now, lo, in the heavens [is] my witness, And my testifier in the high places.

Also, now, behold, my witness [is] in the heavens, And my testifier in the high places.

20 My interpreter [is] my friend, Unto God hath mine eye dropped:

My interpreter [is] my friend, My eye has dropped to God;

21 And he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.

And He reasons for a man with God, As a son of man for his friend.

22 When a few years do come, Then a path I return not do I go.

When a few years come, Then I go [on] the path of no return.”