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16 ¶ Then Job answered and said,

Many times I have heard such things; miserable comforters are ye all.

Shall vain words have an end? Or what is it that emboldens thee to answer?

I also could speak as ye do. I wish your soul were in my soul’s stead, that I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would assuage the pain.

¶ Though if I speak, my pain does not cease; and if I forbear to speak, it does not depart from me.

But now he has made me weary; thou hast made desolate all my company.

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

His wrath has torn me and has been against me; he gnashed upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpened his eyes upon me.

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

11 God has delivered me unto the liar, and in the hands of the wicked he has caused me to tremble.

12 I was prosperous, but he has broken me asunder; he has taken me by my neck and shaken me to pieces and set me up for his mark.

13 His archers compassed me round about; he cleaved my kidneys asunder and did not spare; he poured out my gall upon the ground.

14 He broke me with breach upon breach; he ran upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewn sackcloth upon my skin and put dust over my head.

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

17 ¶ even though there is no injustice in my hands, and my prayer has been pure.

18 O earth, do not cover my blood; and let there be no place where my cry is hidden.

19 Certainly my witness is even now in the heavens, and my record is on high.

20 Those who dispute with me are my friends, but my eyes shall pour out tears unto God.

21 O that a man might dispute with God, as he can with his neighbour!

22 When the counted years are come, then I shall go the way from which I shall not return.

Job

16 Then Job replied:

“I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters,(A) all of you!(B)
Will your long-winded speeches never end?(C)
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?(D)
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.
But my mouth would encourage you;
    comfort(F) from my lips would bring you relief.(G)

“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.(H)
Surely, God, you have worn me out;(I)
    you have devastated my entire household.(J)
You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness(K) rises up and testifies against me.(L)
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

  1. Job 16:20 Or My friends treat me with scorn