Job 16

1 And Job made answer and said,

Then Job answered,

2 Such things have frequently come to my ears: you are comforters who only give trouble.

"I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters.

3 May words which are like the wind be stopped? or what is troubling you to make answer to them?

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

4 It would not be hard for me to say such things if your souls were in my soul's place; joining words together against you, and shaking my head at you:

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,

5 I might give you strength with my mouth, and not keep back the comfort of my lips.

but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

6 If I say what is in my mind, my pain becomes no less: and if I keep quiet, how much of it goes from me?

"Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he has overcome me with weariness and fear, and I am in the grip of all my trouble.

But now he has worn me out. You have laid waste all my company.

8 It has come up as a witness against me, and the wasting of my flesh makes answer to my face.

You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

9 I am broken by his wrath, and his hate has gone after me; he has made his teeth sharp against me: my haters are looking on me with cruel eyes;

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.

10 Their mouths are open wide against me; the blows of his bitter words are falling on my face; all of them come together in a mass against me.

They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

11 God gives me over to the power of sinners, sending me violently into the hands of evil-doers.

God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was in comfort, but I have been broken up by his hands; he has taken me by the neck, shaking me to bits; he has put me up as a mark for his arrows.

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.

13 His bowmen come round about me; their arrows go through my body without mercy; my life is drained out on the earth.

His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.

14 I am broken with wound after wound; he comes rushing on me like a man of war.

He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.

15 I have made haircloth the clothing of my skin, and my horn is rolled in the dust.

I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping, and my eyes are becoming dark;

My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.

17 Though my hands have done no violent acts, and my prayer is clean.

Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, let not my blood be covered, and let my cry have no resting-place!

"Earth, do not cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

19 Even now my witness is in heaven, and the supporter of my cause is on high.

Even now, look, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

20 My friends make sport of me; to God my eyes are weeping,

My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,

21 So that he may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man and his neighbour.

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor.

22 For in a short time I will take the journey from which I will not come back.

For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from where I shall not return.