Job 16

1 Then Job answered:

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

3 Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?

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

5 But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

6 Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?

7 Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.

8 You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.

9 His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.

10 They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.

11 God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;

13 His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.

14 He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.

15 I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;

17 yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.

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

20 My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

21 Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

22 For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.

1 ¶ Then Job answered and said,

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

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

4 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, and the moving of my lips should asswage [your grief].

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Job answered and said:

2 I have often heard these things. You are all sorrowful comforters.

3 will the loose words have no end? Or what makes you so bold, so to speak?

4 I could speak as you do. Would to God that your soul were in my place! I would also sit with words upon you, and so shake my head over you.

5 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and comfort you with my lips.

6 But if I speak, my grief spareth not me: if I tarry, it shall not depart from me.

7 But now he hath wearied me, and hath destroyed all that I am.

8 He hath made me frown, and hath testified against me: and mine adversary hath rebelled against me, and answered against me.

9 His wrath is sore, and he that is angry with me gnasheth his teeth at me: mine adversary gleameth upon me with his eyes.

10 They have opened their mouths against me, and have smitten me shamefully on my cheeks; they have burned their courage together against me.

11 God hath delivered me up to the wicked, and delivered me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was rich, but he hath brought me to nought; he hath taken me by the neck, and crushed me, and set me up for his purpose:

13 He hath compassed me about with his protectors; he hath cleft my kidneys, and not spared them; he hath poured out my gall upon the earth;

14 He hath made me one wound upon another; he hath run upon me like a mighty man.

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

16 My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are darkened,

17 Though there be no iniquity in mine hand, and my prayer be pure.

18 O earth, cover not my blood, and let not my cry find room.

19 Behold also, my witness is in heaven; and he that knoweth me is on high.

20 My friends are my mockers: but mine eye doth water unto GOD.

21 If a man could be right with God as a man's child with his friend!

22 But the appointed years are come, and I go away by the way which I shall not return.