Job 16

1 Then Job answered,

Then Job answered and said,

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

I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are you all.

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

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens you that you answer?

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 could speak as you do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up 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.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.

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

Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

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

But now he has made me weary: you have made desolate all my company.

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

And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness 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.

He tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes on me with his teeth; my enemy sharpens his eyes on 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 have gaped on me with their mouth; they have smitten me on the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

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

God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over 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 has broken me asunder: he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and 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 compass me round about, he splits my reins asunder, and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.

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

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

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

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

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

My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

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

Not for any injustice in my hands: also my prayer is pure.

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

O earth, cover not you my blood, and let my cry have no place.

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

Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

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

My friends scorn me: but my eye pours out tears to God.

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

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!

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

When a few years are come, then I shall go the way from where I shall not return.