Job 16
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Job 16
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Then Job answered and said, | And Job made answer and said, |
I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all. | Such things have frequently come to my ears: you are comforters who only give trouble. |
Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest? | May words which are like the wind be stopped? or what is troubling you to make answer to them? |
I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you. | It would not be hard for me to say such things if your souls were in my soul's place; joining words together against you, and shaking my head at you: |
[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief]. | I might give you strength with my mouth, and not keep back the comfort of my lips. |
Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased? | If I say what is in my mind, my pain becomes no less: and if I keep quiet, how much of it goes from me? |
But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company. | But now he has overcome me with weariness and fear, and I am in the grip of all my trouble. |
And thou hast laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face. | It has come up as a witness against me, and the wasting of my flesh makes answer to my face. |
He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me. | I am broken by his wrath, and his hate has gone after me; he has made his teeth sharp against me: my haters are looking on me with cruel eyes; |
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me. | Their mouths are open wide against me; the blows of his bitter words are falling on my face; all of them come together in a mass against me. |
God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked. | God gives me over to the power of sinners, sending me violently into the hands of evil-doers. |
I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark. | I was in comfort, but I have been broken up by his hands; he has taken me by the neck, shaking me to bits; he has put me up as a mark for his arrows. |
His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground. | His bowmen come round about me; their arrows go through my body without mercy; my life is drained out on the earth. |
He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant. | I am broken with wound after wound; he comes rushing on me like a man of war. |
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust. | I have made haircloth the clothing of my skin, and my horn is rolled in the dust. |
My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death; | My face is red with weeping, and my eyes are becoming dark; |
Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure. | Though my hands have done no violent acts, and my prayer is clean. |
O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting] -place. | O earth, let not my blood be covered, and let my cry have no resting-place! |
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high. | Even now my witness is in heaven, and the supporter of my cause is on high. |
My friends scoff at me: [But] mine eye poureth out tears unto God, | My friends make sport of me; to God my eyes are weeping, |
That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor! | So that he may give decision for a man in his cause with God, and between a son of man and his neighbour. |
For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return. | For in a short time I will take the journey from which I will not come back. |