Job 16

¹ Then Job answered and said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

⁸ And 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.

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

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

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

¹² I 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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