Job 16

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said:

2 “I have heard many such things; you are all miserable comforters.

I have heard many such things; sorry comforters are ye all.

3 Will useless words ever have an end? What is wrong with you that you answer like this?

Shall windy words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could collect and join words together against you and shake my head at you in mockery.

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 my head at you.

5 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the quivering of my lips will bring you relief!

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

6 If I speak, my grief is not lessened; if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?

Though I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now, God, you have made me weary; you have made all my family desolate.

But now He hath made me weary; Thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 You have made me dry up, which itself is a witness against me; the leanness of my body rises up against me, and it testifies against my face.

And Thou hast shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness riseth up against me, it testifieth to my face.

9 God has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me; He grinds his teeth in rage; my enemy fastens his eyes on me as he tears me apart.

He hath torn me in His wrath, and hated me; He hath gnashed upon me with His teeth; mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10 People have gaped with open mouth at me; they have hit me reproachfully on the cheek; they have gathered together against me.

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

11 God hands me over to ungodly people, and throws me into the hands of wicked people.

God delivereth me to the ungodly, and casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Indeed, he has taken me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he has also set me up as his target.

I was at ease, and He broke 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 His archers surround me all around; God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; he pours out my bile on the ground.

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 smashes through my wall again and again; he runs upon me like a warrior.

He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; I have thrust my horn into the ground.

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

16 My face is red with weeping; on my eyelids is the shadow of death

My face is reddened 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.

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

18 Earth, do not cover up my blood; let my cry have no resting place.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place.

19 Even now, see, my witness is in heaven; he who vouches for me is on high.

Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He that testifieth of me is on high.

20 My friends scoff at me, but my eye pours out tears to God.

Mine inward thoughts are my intercessors, mine eye poureth out tears unto God;

21 I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God as a man does with his neighbor!

That He would set aright a man contending with God, as a son of man setteth aright his neighbour!

22 For when a few years have passed, I will go to a place from where I will not return.

For the years that are few are coming on, and I shall go the way whence I shall not return.