Job 16
1 And Job answereth and saith: —
Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things, Miserable comforters [are] ye all.
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Is there an end to words of wind? Or what doth embolden thee that thou answerest?
Shall vain words have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
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 could speak as ye do; if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join words together against you, and shake mine head at you.
5 I might harden you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips might be sparing.
[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your grief].
6 If I speak, my pain is not restrained, And I cease — what goeth from me?
Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 Only, now, it hath wearied me; Thou hast desolated all my company,
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate 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 thou hast laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to 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.
He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; he hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon 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 upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: they gather themselves together against me.
11 God shutteth me up unto the perverse, And to the hands of the wicked turneth me over.
God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me into 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 was at ease, and he brake me asunder; yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: he hath also set me up for his 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 compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me — breach upon breach, He runneth upon me as a mighty one.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 Sackcloth I have sewed on my skin, And have rolled in the dust my horn.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid 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 the shadow of death;
17 Not for violence in my hands, And my prayer [is] pure.
Although there is no violence in mine 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, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no [resting] place.
19 Also, now, lo, in the heavens [is] my witness, And my testifier in the high places.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he that coucheth for me is on high.
20 My interpreter [is] my friend, Unto God hath mine eye dropped:
My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out tears unto God;
21 And he reasoneth for a man with God, And a son of man for his friend.
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbour!
22 When a few years do come, Then a path I return not do I go.
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
