Job 16

1And Job answered and said,

1Then Job answered and said,

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

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

3Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

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

4I 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;

4I 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[But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].

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

6If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?

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

7But now he hath made me weary; ...thou hast made desolate all my family;

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

8Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.

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

9His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.

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

10They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.

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

11God hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.

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

12I 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.

12I 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.

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

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

14He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

18O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!

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

19Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.

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

20My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears untoGod.

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

21Oh that there were arbitration for a man withGod, as a son of man for his friend!

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

22For years [few] in number shall pass, — and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.

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