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' 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 on 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.21O 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.
Job 16
English Standard Version
Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You
1Then Job answered and said:2“I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all. (Job 12:3; Job 13:4)3Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? (Job 15:2)4I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you. (2Ki 19:21; Ps 22:7; Ps 109:25; Isa 37:22; Jer 18:16; La 2:15; Mt 27:39; Mr 15:29)5I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.6“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?7Surely now God has worn me out; he has[1] made desolate all my company. (Job 1:15; Job 15:34)8And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face. (Ru 1:21; Job 10:17; Ps 109:24)9He has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me. (Job 18:4; Job 30:21; Ps 35:16; Ps 37:12; Ps 112:10; La 2:16; Ho 6:1; Am 1:11; Ac 7:54)10Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me. (1Ki 22:24; Ps 3:7; Ps 22:13; Ps 35:15; Isa 50:6; La 3:30; Mic 5:1; Ac 23:2)11God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.12I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target; (Job 7:20; La 3:12)13his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground. (Job 20:25; Job 27:22; Jer 50:29; La 2:11)14He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior. (Job 15:26; Job 30:14)15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust. (2Sa 3:31; Ps 7:5; Ps 75:10)16My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness, (Job 3:5)17although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. (Isa 53:9)18“O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place. (Ge 4:10; Isa 26:21; Eze 24:7)19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high. (Ps 89:37; Ps 148:1; Ro 1:9)20My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God, (Job 12:5)21that he would argue the case of a man with God, as[2] a son of man does with his neighbor. (Job 31:35)22For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return. (Job 10:21)