Job Says Friends Are Sorry Comforters

16 Then Job [a]answered,

“I have heard many such things;
[b](A)Sorry comforters are you all.
“Is there no limit to (B)windy words?
Or what plagues you that you answer?
“I too could speak like you,
If [c]I were in your place.
I could compose words against you
And (C)shake my head at you.
“I could strengthen you with my mouth,
And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.

Job Says God Shattered Him

“If I speak, (D)my pain is not lessened,
And if I hold back, what has left me?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 16:1 Lit answered and said
  2. Job 16:2 Lit Comforters of trouble
  3. Job 16:4 Lit your soul were in place of my soul

Job

16 Then Job replied:

“I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters,(A) all of you!(B)
Will your long-winded speeches never end?(C)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?(D)
I also could speak like you,
    if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
    and shake my head(E) at you.
But my mouth would encourage you;
    comfort(F) from my lips would bring you relief.(G)

“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.(H)

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16 Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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.

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

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

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