Job 16

1 Then Job (Iyyov) answered and said:

2 “I have heard many such thing; miserable comforters are you all!

3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what emboldeneth you that you answerest?

4 I also could speak as you 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 strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should relief your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not relieved; and though I forbear, how am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary; You have made desolate all my company.

8 And You have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me; and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

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

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

11 God (El) hath delivered me to the unjust, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 I 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.

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 defiled my horn in the dust.

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

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

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

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

20 My friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God (Eloah).

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

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