Job 16
Common English Bible
Job’s response
16 Then Job answered:
2 I’ve heard many things like these.
All of you are sorry comforters.
3 Will windy talk ever cease;
what bothers you that you must argue?
4 In your situation I could speak like you;
I could put words together to oppose you,
shake my head over you.
5 I could heap up words, strengthen you with my speech;
my trembling lips would be held in check.
6 If I speak, my pain is not eased;
if I hold back, what have I lost?
The innocent are God’s targets
7 Now God has surely worn me out.
You have destroyed my entire group,
8 seized me, which became grounds for an accusation.[a]
My leanness rises to bear witness against me.
9 His anger tears me and afflicts me;
he slashes at me with his teeth.
My enemy pierces me with his eyes.
10 They open their mouths at me
and strike my cheek in a taunt;
they gang up on me.
11 God delivers me to a criminal
and forces me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at rest, but he shattered me,
seized me by the back of my neck,
dashed me into pieces;
he raised me up for his target.
13 His archers surround me;
he cuts my kidneys open without pity and doesn’t care,
pours my gall on the ground,
14 bursts me open over and over,
runs against me like a strong man.
15 I’ve sewed rough cloth over my skin
and buried my dignity in the dust.
16 My face is red from crying,
and dark gloom hangs on my eyelids.
17 But there is no violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure.
Lingering hope
18 Earth, don’t cover my blood;
let my outcry never cease.
19 Surely now my witness stands in heaven;
my advocate is on high;
20 my go-between, my friend.[b]
While my eyes drip tears to God,
21 let him plead with God for a human being,
like a person pleads for a friend.
22 A number of years will surely pass,
and then I’ll walk a path that I won’t return.
Job 16
1599 Geneva Bible
16 1 Job moved by the importunacy of his friends, 7 Counteth in what extremity he is. 19 And taketh God to witness of his innocence.
1 But Job answered and said,
2 I have oftentimes heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall there be none end of words of [a]wind? or what maketh thee bold so to [b]answer?
4 I could also speak as ye do: (but would God your [c]soul were in my soul’s stead) I could keep you company in speaking, and could [d]shake mine head at you,
5 But I would strengthen you [e]with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should assuage your sorrow.
6 Though I speak, my sorrow [f]cannot be assuaged: though I cease, what release have I?
7 But now [g]he maketh me weary: O God, thou hast made all my [h]congregation desolate,
8 And hast made me full of [i]wrinkles which is a witness thereof, and my leanness riseth up in me, testifying the same in my face.
9 [j]His wrath hath torn me, and he hateth me, and gnasheth upon me with his teeth: mine enemy hath sharpened his eyes against me.
10 They have opened their mouths upon me, and smitten me on the [k]cheek in reproach: they gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the unjust, and hath made me to turn out of the way by the [l]hands of the wicked.
12 I was in wealth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the neck and beaten me, and set me as a mark for himself.
13 His [m]archers compass me round about: he cutteth my reins, and doth not spare, and poureth my gall [n]upon the ground.
14 He hath broken me with one breaking upon another, and runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sowed a sackcloth upon my skin, and have abased mine [o]horn unto the dust.
16 My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is upon mine eyes,
17 Though there be no wickedness in [p]mine hands, and my prayer [q]be pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my [r]blood, and let my crying find no place.
19 For lo, now my [s]witness is in the heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends [t]speak eloquently against me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 Oh that a man might [u]plead with God, as man with his neighbor!
22 For the years accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not return.
Footnotes
- Job 16:3 Which serve for vain ostentation and for no true comfort.
- Job 16:3 For Eliphaz did reply against Job’s answer.
- Job 16:4 I would you felt that which I do.
- Job 16:4 That is, mock at your misery, as you do at mine.
- Job 16:5 If this were in my power, yet would I comfort you, and not do as ye do to me.
- Job 16:6 If they would say, Why dost thou not then comfort thyself? he answereth, that the judgments of God are more heavy than he is able to assuage either by words or silence.
- Job 16:7 Meaning, God.
- Job 16:7 That is, destroyed most of my family.
- Job 16:8 In token of sorrow and grief.
- Job 16:9 That is, God by his wrath: and in this diversity of words and high style, he expresseth how grievous the hand of God was upon him.
- Job 16:10 That is, hath handled me most contemptuously: for so smiting on the cheek signified, 1 Kings 22:24; Mark 14:65.
- Job 16:11 They have led me whither they would.
- Job 16:13 His manifold afflictions.
- Job 16:13 I am wounded to the heart.
- Job 16:15 Meaning, his glory was brought low.
- Job 16:17 Signifying, that he is not able to comprehend the cause of this his grievous punishment.
- Job 16:17 That is, unfeigned, and without hypocrisy.
- Job 16:18 Let my sin be known if I be such a sinner as mine adversaries accuse me, and let me find no favor.
- Job 16:19 Though man condemn me, yet God is witness of my cause.
- Job 16:20 Use painted words instead of true consolation.
- Job 16:21 Thus by his great torments he is carried away, and breaketh out into passions, and speaketh unadvisedly, as though God should entreat man more gently, seeing he hath but a short time here to live.
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Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
