Job 16
1Then Job answered and said, 1
2“I have heard many such things; 1 you are all miserable comforters. 1
3Will useless words ever have an end? 1 What is wrong with you that you answer like this? 1
4I also could speak as you do, 1 if you were in my place; 1 I could collect and join words together against you 1 and shake my head at you in mockery. 1
5I would strengthen you with my mouth, 1 and the quivering of my lips will bring you relief! 1
6If I speak, my grief is not lessened; 1 if I keep from speaking, how am I helped? 1
7But now, God, you have made me weary; 1 you have made all my family desolate. 1
8You have made me dry up, which itself is a witness against me; 1 the leanness of my body rises up against me, 1 and it testifies against my face. 1
9God has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me; 1 He grinds his teeth in rage; 1 my enemy fastens his eyes on me as he tears me apart. 1
10People have gaped with open mouth at me; 1 they have hit me reproachfully on the cheek; 1 they have gathered together against me. 1
11God hands me over to ungodly people, 1 and throws me into the hands of wicked people. 1
12I was at ease, and he broke me apart. 1 Indeed, he has taken me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; 1 he has also set me up as his target. 1
13His archers surround me all around; 1 God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me; 1 he pours out my bile on the ground. 1
14He smashes through my wall again and again; 1 he runs upon me like a warrior. 1
15I have sewn sackcloth on my skin; 1 I have thrust my horn into the ground. 1
16My face is red with weeping; 1 on my eyelids is the shadow of death 1
17although there is no violence in my hands, 1 and my prayer is pure. 1
18Earth, do not cover up my blood; 1 let my cry have no resting place. 1
19Even now, see, my witness is in heaven; 1 he who vouches for me is on high. 1
20My friends scoff at me, 1 but my eye pours out tears to God. 1
21I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God 1 as a man does with his neighbor! 1
22For when a few years have passed, 1 I will go to a place from where I will not return.