²⁰ You prevail forever against him, and he passes on; You change his appearance [in death] and send him away [from the presence of the living].

²¹ His sons come to honor, and he knows it not; they are brought low, and he perceives it not.

²² But his body [lamenting its decay in the grave] shall grieve over him, and his soul shall mourn [over the body of clay which it once enlivened].

16 Then Job answered,

² I have heard many such things; wearisome and miserable comforters are you all!

³ Will your futile words of wind have no end? Or what makes you so bold to answer [me like this]?

⁴ I also could speak as you do, if you were in my stead; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.

⁵ [But] I would strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would soothe your suffering.

⁶ If I speak [to you miserable comforters], my sorrow is not soothed or lessened; and if I refrain [from speaking], in what way am I eased? [I hardly know whether to answer you or be silent.]

⁷ But now [God] has taken away my strength. You [O Lord] have made desolate all my family and associates.

⁸ You have laid firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness [and wretched state of body] are further evidence [against me]; [they] testify to my face.

⁹ [^[a]My adversary Satan] has torn [me] in his wrath and hated and persecuted me; he has gnashed upon me with his teeth; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.

¹⁰ [The forces of evil] have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me upon the cheek insolently; they massed themselves together and conspired unanimously against me.^(A)

¹¹ God has delivered me to the ungodly (to the evil one) and cast me [headlong] into the hands of the wicked (Satan’s host).

¹² I was living at ease, but [Satan] crushed me and broke me apart; yes, he seized me by the neck and dashed me in pieces; then he set me up for his target.

¹³ [Satan’s] arrows whiz around me. He slashes open my vitals and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.

¹⁴ [Satan] stabs me, making breach after breach and attacking again and again; he runs at me like a giant and irresistible warrior.

¹⁵ I have sewed sackcloth over my skin [as a sign of mourning] and have defiled my horn (my insignia of strength) in the dust.

¹⁶ My face is red and swollen with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death [my eyes are dimmed],

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

¹⁸ O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place [where it will cease being heard].

¹⁹ Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high.^(B)

²⁰ My friends scorn me, but my eye pours out tears to God.

²¹ Oh, that there might be one who would plead for a man with God and that he would maintain his right with Him, as a son of man pleads with or for his neighbor!^(C)

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

4 I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom:

² Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.

³ For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

⁴ And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

⁵ As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already about to be sacrificed [my life is about to be poured out as a drink offering]; the time of my [spirit’s] release [from the body] is at hand and I will soon go free.

⁷ I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

⁸ [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).

⁹ Make every effort to come to me soon.

¹⁰ For Demas has deserted me for love of this present world and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens [has gone] to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

¹¹ Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry.

¹² Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.