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] ye all.

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

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

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 ye [do: ] if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine 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 asswage [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 asswaged: 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 hath made me weary: thou hast 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 thou hast filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me: ] and my leanness rising up in me beareth 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 teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon 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 upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon 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 hath 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 hath broken me asunder: he hath 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 cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

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

He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

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

I have sewed sackcloth upon 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 mine 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 thou 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] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto 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 [pleadeth] for his neighbour!

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 [whence] I shall not return.