Job 16
International Standard Version
Job Reasons with Eliphaz
16 In response, Job said:
2 “I’ve heard many things like this.
What miserable comforters you all are!
3 Will windy words like yours never end?
What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing?
4 “I could also talk like you
if only you were in my place!
Then I would put together an argument[a] against you.
I would shake my head at you
5 and encourage you with what I have to say;[b]
my words of comfort would lessen your pain.
6 “But if I speak, my pain isn’t assuaged;
if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?”
Job Claims of God’s Mistreatment
7 “God[c] has certainly worn me out;
you devastated my entire world.[d]
8 You’ve arrested me, making me testify against myself!
My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing[e] me to my face.
9 His anger tears me in his persistent resentment against me;
he gnashes his teeth at me.
My adversary glares[f] at me.
10 People gaped at me with mouths wide open;
they slap me in their scorn
and gather together against me.
11 God has delivered me over to the ungodly,
throwing me into the control of the wicked.
12 “He tore me apart when I was at ease;
grabbing me by my neck, he shook me to pieces—
then he really made me his target.
13 His archers surround me,
slashing open my kidneys without pity;
he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 Attack follows attack as he breaks through my defenses!
He runs over me like a mighty warrior.
15 “I’ve even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin;
I’ve buried my strength[g] in the dust.
16 My face is red from my tears,
and dark shadows encircle my eyelids,
17 even though violence is not my intention,
and my prayer is pure.”
Job Appeals to Witnesses
18 “Listen, earth! Don’t cover my blood,
for my outcry has no place to rest.
19 Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven,
my Advocate is on high.
20 My friends mock me,
while my eyes overflow with tears to God,
21 crying for him to arbitrate between this[h] man and God;
as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.
22 For when only a few years have elapsed,
I’ll start down a path from which I’ll never return.”
Job 16
Darby Translation
16 And Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 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;
5 [But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
6 If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he hath made me weary; … thou hast made desolate all my family;
8 Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.
9 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.
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