The Book of Job

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- Chapter 16 -

Job reproaches his merciless friends

Then Job answered, and said:

I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.

Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?

I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul.

I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.

I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.

But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.

But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.

My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.

He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes.

They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.

God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.

I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark.

He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth.

He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.

I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.

My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.

These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.

O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.

For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.

My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.

And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!

For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.

Job reproaches his merciless friends

Then Job answered,

“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?

But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.

You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.

He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.

I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.

My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,

although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!

For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.