The Book of Job

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 16 -

Job reproaches his merciless friends

Bvt Iob answered, and said,

I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

Shall there be none ende of wordes of winde? or what maketh thee bold so to answere?

I could also speake as yee doe: (but woulde God your soule were in my soules stead) I could keepe you company in speaking, and could shake mine head at you,

But I woulde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should asswage your sorowe.

Though I speake, my sorow can not be asswaged: though I cease, what release haue I?

But now hee maketh mee wearie: O God, thou hast made all my congregation desolate,

And hast made me full of wrinkles which is a witnesse thereof, and my leannes ryseth vp in me, testifying the same in my face.

His wrath hath torne me, and hee hateth me, and gnasheth vpon mee with his teeth: mine enemie hath sharpened his eyes against me.

They haue opened their mouthes vpon me, and smitten me on the cheeke in reproch; they gather themselues together against me.

God hath deliuered me to the vniust, and hath made mee to turne out of the way by the hands of the wicked.

I was in welth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set me as a marke for himselfe.

His archers compasse mee rounde about: he cutteth my reines, and doth not spare, and powreth my gall vpon the ground.

He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.

I haue sowed a sackcloth vpon my skinne, and haue abased mine horne vnto the dust.

My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,

Though there be no wickednesse in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.

O earth, couer not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no place.

For lo, now my witnesse is in the heauen, and my record is on hie.

My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.

Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!

For the yeeres accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not returne.

Job reproaches his merciless friends

Then Job answered,

“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

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,

but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?

But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.

You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

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.

They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

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.

His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.

He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.

I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.

My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,

although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!

For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.