Job 16

1 Then Job answered:

1 Then Job answered,

2 “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all.

2 “I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!

3 Is there no end to your long-winded speeches? What provokes you to continue testifying?

3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

4 I could also speak like you if you were in my place; I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

4 I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

5 But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

5 but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

6 Even if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I hold back, how will it go away?

6 “Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 Surely He has now exhausted me; You have devastated all my family.

7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.

8 You have bound me, and it has become a witness; my frailty rises up and testifies against me.

8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

9 His anger has torn me and opposed me; He gnashes His teeth at me. My adversary pierces me with His eyes.

9 He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

10 They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join together against me.

10 They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

11 God has delivered me to unjust men; He has thrown me to the clutches of the wicked.

11 God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at ease, but He shattered me; He seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has set me up as His target;

12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

13 His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and spills my gall on the ground.

13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.

14 He breaks me with wound upon wound; He rushes me like a mighty warrior.

14 He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.

15 I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my horn in the dust.

15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.

16 My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;

16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,

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

17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.

18 “Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

19 Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

20 My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.

20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,

21 Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!

22 For when only a few years are past I will go the way of no return.

22 For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.