Job 16
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
16 Then Job answered, and said:
2 I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.
3 Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?
4 I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul.
5 I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.
6 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.
7 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.
8 But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.
9 My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.
10 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.
11 They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.
12 God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.
13 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.
14 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.
15 He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.
16 I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.
17 My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.
18 These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.
19 O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.
20 For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.
21 My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.
22 And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!
23 For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.
Job 16
GOD’S WORD Translation
Job Speaks: My Friends Do Not Help Ease My Pain
16 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,
2 “I have heard many things like this before.
You are all pathetic at comforting me.
3 Will ⌞your⌟ long-winded speeches never end?
What disturbs you that you keep on answering ⌞me⌟?
4 I, too, could speak like you
if we could trade places.
I could string words together against you
and shake my head at you.
5 I could encourage you with my mouth,
and my quivering lips could ease ⌞your pain⌟.
6 If I speak, my pain is not eased.
If I stop talking, how much of it will go away?
7 “But now, God has worn me out.
You, ⌞God,⌟ have destroyed everyone who supports me.
8 You have shriveled me up, which itself is a witness ⌞against me⌟.
My frail body rises up and testifies against me.
Job Describes What God Has Done to Him
9 “God’s anger tore me ⌞apart⌟ and attacked me.
He gritted his teeth at me.
My opponent looked sharply at me.
10 People ridiculed me with their mouths.
They slapped my cheeks with contempt.
They united against me.
11 God handed me over to unjust people
and threw me into the hands of wicked people.
12 I was at ease, and he shattered me.
He grabbed me by the back of the neck and smashed ⌞my skull⌟.
He set me up as his target,
13 and his archers surrounded me.
He slashes open my kidneys without mercy
and spills my blood[a] on the ground.
14 He inflicts wound after wound on me.
He lunges at me like a warrior.
15 “I have sewn sackcloth over my skin,
and I have thrown my strength in the dust.
16 My face is red from crying,
and dark shadows encircle my eyes,
17 although my hands have done nothing violent,
and my prayer is sincere.
Job Appeals His Case to Heaven
18 “Earth, don’t cover my blood.
Don’t ever let my cry ⌞for justice⌟ be stopped.
19 Even now, look! My witness is in heaven,
and the one who testifies for me is above,
20 the spokesman for my thoughts.[b]
My eyes drip ⌞with tears⌟ to God
22 because in a few short years I will take the path of no return.[c]
21 But my witness will plead for a human in front of God.
The Son of Man will plead for his friend!
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