Job 16

1 Then Job answered,

But Job answered and said,

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

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

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

What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder you from answering?

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 will speak as you [do]: if indeed your soul were in my [soul's] stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.

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

And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.

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

For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?

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

But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and you have laid hold of me.

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

My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me 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.

In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen 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.

He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp [spear] he has struck me [down] upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.

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

For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.

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.

When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.

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

They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing [me] they poured out my gall upon the ground.

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

They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in [their] might.

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

They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.

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

My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.

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

Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

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

Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.

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

And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

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

Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.

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

Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even [as] the son of man with his neighbour!

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

But my years are numbered and [their end] come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.