Job 16

1Then Job answered and said,

1Then Job answered:

2I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.

2I have heard many things like this before. You are all miserable comforters!

3Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

3Will your long-winded speeches ever end? What keeps you talking back to me?

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

4I could speak just like you if you were in my place. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you.

5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

5But I would rather encourage you and speak words that would take away your grief.

6Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?

6Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I stop speaking, it doesn't go away either.

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

7But now God has exhausted me; you have wiped out my entire family.

8And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.

8You have shriveled me up, and it stands as a witness against me; my thinness rises up and testifies to my face.

9He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

9In his anger, God tears at me and hunts me down; he gnashes his teeth at me. My enemy glares at me with sharp eyes.

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

10People open their mouths wide to mock me; they strike my face in contempt and join forces against me.

11God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

11God has handed me over to sinful people and thrown me into the hands of the wicked.

12I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.

12I was living at peace, but he shattered me; he grabbed me by the neck and smashed me to pieces. He has set me up as his target.

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

13His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and pours my gallbladder out on the ground.

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

14He breaks through my defenses again and again; he rushes at me like a warrior.

15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.

15I have sewn scratchy sackcloth over my skin and buried my pride in the dust.

16My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

16My face is red from weeping, and dark shadows are under my eyes.

17Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

17Yet my hands have not done any violence, and my prayer is sincere.

18O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have noresting-place.

18O earth, do not cover up my blood; do not let my cry for justice be buried!

19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.

19Even now, my witness is in heaven; the one who can testify for me is on high.

20My friends scoff at me: But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

20My friends mock me, but I pour out my tears to God.

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

21I wish someone would argue a man's case with God, just as a person pleads for a neighbor.

22For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

22For only a few more years will pass before I go on the journey from which I won't return.