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16 And Job answered and said,

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

Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;

[But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].

If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?

But now he hath made me weary; … thou hast made desolate all my family;

Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.

His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.

10 They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.

11 God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13 His arrows encompass 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 mighty man.

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

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

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

18 O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!

19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.

20 My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God.

21 Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!

22 For years [few] in number shall pass,—and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.

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)
Surely, God, you have worn me out;(I)
    you have devastated my entire household.(J)
You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness(K) rises up and testifies against me.(L)
God assails me and tears(M) me in his anger(N)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;(O)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.(P)
10 People open their mouths(Q) to jeer at me;(R)
    they strike my cheek(S) in scorn
    and unite together against me.(T)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.(U)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.(V)
He has made me his target;(W)
13     his archers surround me.(X)
Without pity, he pierces(Y) my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again(Z) he bursts upon me;
    he rushes at me like a warrior.(AA)

15 “I have sewed sackcloth(AB) over my skin
    and buried my brow in the dust.(AC)
16 My face is red with weeping,(AD)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;(AE)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence(AF)
    and my prayer is pure.(AG)

18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;(AH)
    may my cry(AI) never be laid to rest!(AJ)
19 Even now my witness(AK) is in heaven;(AL)
    my advocate is on high.(AM)
20 My intercessor(AN) is my friend[a](AO)
    as my eyes pour out(AP) tears(AQ) to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads(AR) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

22 “Only a few years will pass
    before I take the path of no return.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Job 16:20 Or My friends treat me with scorn