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Job 16
1599 Geneva Bible
Job 16
1599 Geneva Bible
16 1 Job moved by the importunacy of his friends, 7 Counteth in what extremity he is. 19 And taketh God to witness of his innocence.
1 But Job answered and said,
2 I have oftentimes heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall there be none end of words of [a]wind? or what maketh thee bold so to [b]answer?
4 I could also speak as ye do: (but would God your [c]soul were in my soul’s stead) I could keep you company in speaking, and could [d]shake mine head at you,
5 But I would strengthen you [e]with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should assuage your sorrow.
6 Though I speak, my sorrow [f]cannot be assuaged: though I cease, what release have I?
7 But now [g]he maketh me weary: O God, thou hast made all my [h]congregation desolate,
8 And hast made me full of [i]wrinkles which is a witness thereof, and my leanness riseth up in me, testifying the same in my face.
9 [j]His wrath hath torn me, and he hateth me, and gnasheth upon me with his teeth: mine enemy hath sharpened his eyes against me.
10 They have opened their mouths upon me, and smitten me on the [k]cheek in reproach: they gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the unjust, and hath made me to turn out of the way by the [l]hands of the wicked.
12 I was in wealth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the neck and beaten me, and set me as a mark for himself.
13 His [m]archers compass me round about: he cutteth my reins, and doth not spare, and poureth my gall [n]upon the ground.
14 He hath broken me with one breaking upon another, and runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sowed a sackcloth upon my skin, and have abased mine [o]horn unto the dust.
16 My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is upon mine eyes,
17 Though there be no wickedness in [p]mine hands, and my prayer [q]be pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my [r]blood, and let my crying find no place.
19 For lo, now my [s]witness is in the heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends [t]speak eloquently against me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 Oh that a man might [u]plead with God, as man with his neighbor!
22 For the years accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not return.
Footnotes
- Job 16:3 Which serve for vain ostentation and for no true comfort.
- Job 16:3 For Eliphaz did reply against Job’s answer.
- Job 16:4 I would you felt that which I do.
- Job 16:4 That is, mock at your misery, as you do at mine.
- Job 16:5 If this were in my power, yet would I comfort you, and not do as ye do to me.
- Job 16:6 If they would say, Why dost thou not then comfort thyself? he answereth, that the judgments of God are more heavy than he is able to assuage either by words or silence.
- Job 16:7 Meaning, God.
- Job 16:7 That is, destroyed most of my family.
- Job 16:8 In token of sorrow and grief.
- Job 16:9 That is, God by his wrath: and in this diversity of words and high style, he expresseth how grievous the hand of God was upon him.
- Job 16:10 That is, hath handled me most contemptuously: for so smiting on the cheek signified, 1 Kings 22:24; Mark 14:65.
- Job 16:11 They have led me whither they would.
- Job 16:13 His manifold afflictions.
- Job 16:13 I am wounded to the heart.
- Job 16:15 Meaning, his glory was brought low.
- Job 16:17 Signifying, that he is not able to comprehend the cause of this his grievous punishment.
- Job 16:17 That is, unfeigned, and without hypocrisy.
- Job 16:18 Let my sin be known if I be such a sinner as mine adversaries accuse me, and let me find no favor.
- Job 16:19 Though man condemn me, yet God is witness of my cause.
- Job 16:20 Use painted words instead of true consolation.
- Job 16:21 Thus by his great torments he is carried away, and breaketh out into passions, and speaketh unadvisedly, as though God should entreat man more gently, seeing he hath but a short time here to live.
Job 16
New International Version
Job 16
New International Version
Job
16 Then Job replied:
2 “I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters,(A) all of you!(B)
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?(C)
What ails you that you keep on arguing?(D)
4 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.
5 But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort(F) from my lips would bring you relief.(G)
6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
and if I refrain, it does not go away.(H)
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;(I)
you have devastated my entire household.(J)
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
my gauntness(K) rises up and testifies against me.(L)
9 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
- Job 16:20 Or My friends treat me with scorn
Job 16
English Standard Version
Job 16
English Standard Version
Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You
16 Then Job answered and said:
2 “I have heard (A)many such things;
(B)miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall (C)windy words have an end?
Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you do,
if you were in my place;
I could join words together against you
and (D)shake my head at you.
5 I could strengthen you with my mouth,
and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6 “If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,
and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7 Surely now God has worn me out;
(E)he has[a] made desolate all my company.
8 And he has shriveled me up,
which is (F)a witness against me,
and my (G)leanness has risen up against me;
it testifies to my face.
9 He has (H)torn me in his wrath (I)and hated me;
he has (J)gnashed his teeth at me;
my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 Men have (K)gaped at me with their mouth;
they have (L)struck me insolently on the cheek;
they (M)mass themselves together against me.
11 God gives me up to the ungodly
and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart;
he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces;
he set me up as his (N)target;
13 his (O)archers surround me.
He slashes open my kidneys (P)and does not spare;
he (Q)pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with (R)breach upon breach;
he (S)runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed (T)sackcloth upon my skin
and have laid (U)my strength (V)in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping,
and on my eyelids is (W)deep darkness,
17 although there is no (X)violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure.
18 “O earth, (Y)cover not my blood,
and let my (Z)cry find no resting place.
19 Even now, behold, my (AA)witness is in heaven,
and he who testifies for me is (AB)on high.
20 My friends (AC)scorn me;
my eye pours out tears to God,
21 that he would (AD)argue the case of a man with God,
as[b] a son of man does with his neighbor.
22 For when a few years have come
I shall go the way (AE)from which I shall not return.
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.