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Troublesome Comforters

16 Then Job answered and said,

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

“If I speak, (D)my pain is not lessened,
And if I cease, what will go forth from me?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 16:2 Lit Comforters of trouble

Job Reasons with Eliphaz

16 In response, Job said:

“I’ve heard many things like this.
    What miserable comforters you all are!
Will windy words like yours never end?
    What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing?

“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
and encourage you with what I have to say;[b]
    my words of comfort would lessen your pain.

“But if I speak, my pain isn’t assuaged;
    if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 16:4 Lit. together words
  2. Job 16:5 Lit. with my mouth