Job 16

1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

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

3 Shall there be none ende of wordes of winde? or what maketh thee bold so to answere?

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

4 I could also speake as yee doe: (but woulde God your soule were in my soules stead) I could keepe you company in speaking, and could shake mine head at you,

I also could speak as all of you do: if your soul were in my soul's position, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

5 But I woulde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.

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

6 Though I speake, my sorow can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?

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

7 But now hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my congregation desolate,

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

8 And hast made me full of wrinkles which is a witnesse thereof, and my leannes ryseth vp in me, testifying the same in 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 His wrath hath torne me, and hee hateth me, and gnasheth vpon mee with his teeth: mine enemie hath sharpened his eyes against me.

He tears me in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpens his eyes upon me.

10 They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.

They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God hath deliuered me to the vniust, and hath made mee to turne out of the way by 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 in welth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set me as a marke for himselfe.

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 compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, and powreth my gall vpon the ground.

His archers compass me round about, he cleaves my reins asunder, and does not spare; he pours out my gall upon the ground.

14 He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.

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

15 I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine horne vnto the dust.

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

16 My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,

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

17 Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.

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

18 O earth, couer not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no place.

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

19 For lo, now my witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.

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

20 My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.

My friends scorn me: but mine eye pours out tears unto God.

21 Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!

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

22 For the yeeres accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not returne.

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