Job 16

1 Job replied,

Then Job answered,

2 “I've heard all this before. You are comforters who just cause trouble!

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

3 Will your windy speeches never cease? What's bothering you that you have to answer me?

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

4 I could talk like you do if you were in my place, stringing words together to criticize you, ridiculing you with a toss of my head.

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 could build you up by my mouth speaking words; the movement of my lips would ease your pain.

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

6 For me, if I speak it doesn't ease my pain, and if I don't speak the pain is still there.

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

7 God, you have worn me out. You have destroyed my whole family.

But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.

8 You have made me shrivel up, which is a witness against me; my thin body testifies against me.

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

9 He has torn me apart in his anger; in his hostility he has gnashed his teeth at me; my enemy pierces me with his fierce look.

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 People stare at me with their mouths wide open, they slap me on my cheeks to mock me, they crowd around me to attack 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 has handed me over to evil people; he has thrown me into their hands.

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

12 I was living in peace and he smashed me to pieces. He grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target.

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 archers surround me. His arrows pierce my kidneys without mercy. He pours out my gall on the ground.

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

14 Like a wall he breaks me down, breach upon breach, rushing at me like a warrior.

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

15 I have sown sackcloth to cover my skin; my strength lies broken in the dust.

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

16 My face is red from crying and dark shadows surround my eyes,

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

17 although I have done nothing wrong and my prayer is pure.

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

18 Earth, do not cover up my blood. May my cry find no place to hide.

“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

19 Look, right now my witness is in heaven; the one who speaks for me is on high.

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

20 My friends scorn me, but my eyes pour out tears to God.

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

21 I want my witness to speak for me with God as someone does for their friend.

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbour!

22 For in a few short years I shall go down that road from which I shall not return.

For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.