God's New Bible

The Book of Job

Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic

- Chapter 16 -

Job reproaches his merciless friends

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Then Job, answering, said:
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I have often heard such things; you are all aggravating comforters.
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Will there be no end to windy words? Or is it at all a burden to you, if you speak?
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I, too, can speak like you; and I also wish that your soul favored my soul.
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I would also comfort you with speeches and would wag my head over you.
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I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as if being lenient to you.
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But what can I do? When I am speaking, my grief will not be quiet; and if I am quiet, it will not withdraw from me.
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But now my grief has crushed me, and all my limbs have been reduced to nothing.
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My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a liar rises up against my face, contradicting me.
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He has gathered together his fury towards me, and, threatening me, he has roared against me with his teeth; my enemy has beheld me with terrible eyes.
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They have opened their mouths against me, and, reproaching me, they have struck me on the cheek; they are nourished by my sufferings.
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God has confined me with the immoral, and he has delivered me into the hands of the impious.
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I, who once was wealthy, am now crushed. He has grabbed me by my neck; he has broken me and has placed me before him as a sign.
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He has surrounded me with his lances. He has severely wounded my lower back, he has not been lenient, and he has poured out my organs upon the earth.
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He has cut me with wound after wound. He has rushed upon me like a giant.
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I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, and I have covered my body with ashes.
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My face is swollen from weeping, and my eyelids have dimmed my vision.
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These things I have endured without iniquity in my hand, while I held pure prayers before God.
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O earth, do not conceal my blood, nor let my outcry find a hiding place in you.
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For behold, my witness is in heaven, and my confidante is on high.
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My friends are full of words; my eye rains tears upon God.
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And I wish that a man might be so judged before God, just as the son of man is judged with his assistant!
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For behold, a few years pass by, and I am walking a path by which I will not return.

Job reproaches his merciless friends

1
Then Job answered,
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I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
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Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
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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,
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but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
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“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
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But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.
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You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.
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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.
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They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
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God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
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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.
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His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
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He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.
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I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
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My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
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although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
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“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
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Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
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My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
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that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
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For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.