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Job 16
International Standard Version
Job 16
International Standard Version
Job Reasons with Eliphaz
16 In response, Job said:
2 “I’ve heard many things like this.
What miserable comforters you all are!
3 Will windy words like yours never end?
What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing?
4 “I could also talk like you
if only you were in my place!
Then I would put together an argument[a] against you.
I would shake my head at you
5 and encourage you with what I have to say;[b]
my words of comfort would lessen your pain.
6 “But if I speak, my pain isn’t assuaged;
if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?”
Job Claims of God’s Mistreatment
7 “God[c] has certainly worn me out;
you devastated my entire world.[d]
8 You’ve arrested me, making me testify against myself!
My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing[e] me to my face.
9 His anger tears me in his persistent resentment against me;
he gnashes his teeth at me.
My adversary glares[f] at me.
10 People gaped at me with mouths wide open;
they slap me in their scorn
and gather together against me.
11 God has delivered me over to the ungodly,
throwing me into the control of the wicked.
12 “He tore me apart when I was at ease;
grabbing me by my neck, he shook me to pieces—
then he really made me his target.
13 His archers surround me,
slashing open my kidneys without pity;
he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 Attack follows attack as he breaks through my defenses!
He runs over me like a mighty warrior.
15 “I’ve even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin;
I’ve buried my strength[g] in the dust.
16 My face is red from my tears,
and dark shadows encircle my eyelids,
17 even though violence is not my intention,
and my prayer is pure.”
Job Appeals to Witnesses
18 “Listen, earth! Don’t cover my blood,
for my outcry has no place to rest.
19 Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven,
my Advocate is on high.
20 My friends mock me,
while my eyes overflow with tears to God,
21 crying for him to arbitrate between this[h] man and God;
as a human being does with his fellow neighbor.
22 For when only a few years have elapsed,
I’ll start down a path from which I’ll never return.”
Job 16
New International Version
Job 16
New International Version
Job
16 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters,(A) all of you!(B)
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?(C)
What ails you that you keep on arguing?(D)
4 I also could speak like you,
if you were in my place;
I could make fine speeches against you
and shake my head(E) at you.
5 But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort(F) from my lips would bring you relief.(G)
6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
and if I refrain, it does not go away.(H)
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;(I)
you have devastated my entire household.(J)
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
my gauntness(K) rises up and testifies against me.(L)
9 God assails me and tears(M) me in his anger(N)
and gnashes his teeth at me;(O)
my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.(P)
10 People open their mouths(Q) to jeer at me;(R)
they strike my cheek(S) in scorn
and unite together against me.(T)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.(U)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
he seized me by the neck and crushed me.(V)
He has made me his target;(W)
13 his archers surround me.(X)
Without pity, he pierces(Y) my kidneys
and spills my gall on the ground.
14 Again and again(Z) he bursts upon me;
he rushes at me like a warrior.(AA)
15 “I have sewed sackcloth(AB) over my skin
and buried my brow in the dust.(AC)
16 My face is red with weeping,(AD)
dark shadows ring my eyes;(AE)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence(AF)
and my prayer is pure.(AG)
18 “Earth, do not cover my blood;(AH)
may my cry(AI) never be laid to rest!(AJ)
19 Even now my witness(AK) is in heaven;(AL)
my advocate is on high.(AM)
20 My intercessor(AN) is my friend[a](AO)
as my eyes pour out(AP) tears(AQ) to God;
21 on behalf of a man he pleads(AR) with God
as one pleads for a friend.
22 “Only a few years will pass
before I take the path of no return.(AS)
Footnotes
- Job 16:20 Or My friends treat me with scorn
International Standard Version (ISV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.