Job, 16

1. Job spoke next. He said:

1. Then Job answered and said,

2. How often have I heard all this before! What sorry comforters you are!

2. I have heard many such things: miserable comforters [are] ye all.

3. 'When will these windy arguments be over?' or again, 'What sickness drives you to defend yourself?'

3. Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

4. Oh yes! I too could talk as you do, if you were in my place; I could overwhelm you with speeches, shaking my head over you,

4. I also could speak as ye [do]: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.

5. and speak words of encouragement, and then have no more to say.

5. [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage [your grief].

6. When I speak, my suffering does not stop; if I say nothing, is it in any way reduced?

6. Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and [though] I forbear, what am I eased?

7. And now it is driving me to distraction; you have struck my whole acquaintanceship with horror,

7. But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

8. now it rounds on me, my slanderer has now turned witness, he appears against me, accusing me face to face;

8. And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

9. his anger tears and hounds me with gnashing teeth. My enemies look daggers at me,

9. He teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10. and open gaping jaws. Their sneers strike like slaps in the face; and they all set on me at once.

10. They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11. Yes, God has handed me over to the godless, and cast me into the hands of the wicked.

11. God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12. I was living at peace, until he made me totter, taking me by the neck to shatter me. He has set me up as his target:

12. I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken [me] by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

13. he shoots his arrows at me from all sides, pitilessly pierces my loins, and pours my gall out on the ground.

13. His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14. Breach after breach he drives through me, charging on me like a warrior.

14. He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

15. I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, thrown my forehead in the dust.

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

16. My face is red with tears, and shadow dark as death covers my eyelids.

16. My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids [is] the shadow of death;

17. Nonetheless, my hands are free of violence, and my prayer is pure.

17. Not for [any] injustice in mine hands: also my prayer [is] pure.

18. Cover not my blood, O earth, and let my cry mount without cease!

18. O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19. Henceforth I have a witness in heaven, my defender is there on high.

19. Also now, behold, my witness [is] in heaven, and my record [is] on high.

20. Interpreter of my thoughts there with God, before whom flow my tears,

20. My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God.

21. let my anguish plead the cause of a man at grips with God, just as a man might defend his fellow.

21. O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbour!

22. For the years of my life are numbered, and I am leaving by the road of no return.

22. When a few years are come, then I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.