Chapter 16

Then Job answered⁴ and said,⁴

I have heard¹ many such things: miserable comforters¹⁸ [are] ye all.

Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth⁵⁵ thee that thou answerest?⁴

I also could speak¹⁷ as ye [do]: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up⁵⁵ words against you, and shake⁵⁵ mine head at you.

[But] I would strengthen¹⁷ you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage⁴ [your grief].

Though I speak,¹⁷ my grief is not asswaged:¹¹ and [though] I forbear,⁴ what am I eased?⁴

But now he hath made me weary:⁵² thou hast made desolate⁵² all my company.

And thou hast filled me with wrinkles,⁴ [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness rising up⁴ in me beareth witness⁴ to my face.

He teareth¹ [me] in his wrath, who hateth⁴ me: he gnasheth¹ upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth⁴ his eyes upon me.

They have gaped¹ upon me with their mouth; they have smitten⁵² me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered¹⁰¹ themselves together against me.

God hath delivered⁵⁵ me to the ungodly, and turned me over¹ into the hands of the wicked.

I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder:⁴⁶ he hath also taken¹ [me] by my neck, and shaken me to pieces,⁴⁶ and set me up⁵⁵ for his mark.

His archers compass me round about,⁴ he cleaveth¹⁷ my reins asunder, and doth not spare;⁴ he poureth out⁴ my gall upon the ground.

He breaketh⁴ me with breach upon breach, he runneth⁴ upon me like a giant.

I have sewed¹ sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled²² my horn in the dust.

My face is foul³⁹ with weeping, and on my eyelids [is] the shadow of death;

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

O earth, cover¹⁷ not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

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

My friends scorn⁵⁶ me: [but] mine eye poureth out¹ [tears] unto God.

O that one might plead⁵⁵ for a man with God, as a man ¹²⁰ [pleadeth] for his neighbour!

When a few years are come,⁴ then I shall go⁴ the way [whence] I shall not return.⁴