Job — Chapter 16

1Then Job answered and said,

2I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

3Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

4I 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.

5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

6Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

8And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

9He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12I 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.

13His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

16My face is foul with weeping, and my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

18O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

20My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

21Oh that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

22When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

1Then Job answered and said,

2I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.

3Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

4I 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[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].

6Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?

7But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.

8And thou hast laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.

9He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.

11God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

12I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.

13His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.

15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.

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

17Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

18O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting] -place.

19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.

20My friends scoff at me: [But] mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

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

22For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

1Then Job replied:

2“I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all!

3Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?

4I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you, and I could shake my head at you.

5But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

6“But if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I refrain from speaking, how much of it goes away?

7Surely now he has worn me out; you have devastated my entire household.

8You have seized me, and it has become a witness; my leanness has risen up against me and testifies against me.

9His anger has torn me and persecuted me; he has gnashed at me with his teeth; my adversary locks his eyes on me.

10People have opened their mouths against me; they have struck my cheek in scorn; they unite together against me.

11God abandons me to evil men, and throws me into the hands of wicked men.

12I was in peace, and he has shattered me. He has seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;

13his archers surround me. Without pity he pierces my kidneys and pours out my gall on the ground.

14He breaks through against me, time and time again; he rushes against me like a warrior.

15I have sewed sackcloth on my skin and buried my horn in the dust;

16my face is reddened because of weeping, and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,

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

18“O earth, do not cover my blood, nor let there be a secret place for my cry.

19Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.

20My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;

21and he contends with God on behalf of man as a man pleads for his friend.

22For the years that lie ahead are few, and then I will go on the way of no return.

1Then Job answered,

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

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

4I 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,

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

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

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

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

9He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

10They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

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

12I 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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