God's New Bible

The Book of Job

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 16 -

Job reproaches his merciless friends

1
Then Job answered and said,
2
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.(a)
3
Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?(b)
4
I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
5
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6
Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?(c)
7
But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8
And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9
He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10
They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11
God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.(d)
12
I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13
His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14
He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16
My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17
Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19
Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.(e)
20
My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.(f)
21
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!(g)
22
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.(h)

Footnotes

(a)16:2 miserable: or, troublesome
(b)16:3 vain…: Heb. words of wind
(c)16:6 what…: Heb. what goeth from me?
(d)16:11 hath…: Heb. hath shut me up
(e)16:19 on high: Heb. in the high places
(f)16:20 scorn me: Heb. are my scorners
(g)16:21 neighbour: or, friend
(h)16:22 a few…: Heb. years of number

Job reproaches his merciless friends

1
Then Job answered,
2
“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
3
Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4
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,
5
but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
6
“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
7
But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.
8
You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.
9
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.
10
They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
11
God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12
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.
13
His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
14
He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.
15
I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
16
My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
17
although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18
“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
19
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
20
My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
21
that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
22
For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.
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