Job

The book of Job, chapter 16, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 16 New English Translation

Job's Reply to Eliphaz

   1 Then Job replied:
   2 "I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all!
   3 Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?
   4 I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you.
   5 But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

Abandonment by God and Man

   6 "But if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I refrain from speaking - how much of it goes away?
   7 Surely now he has worn me out, you have devastated my entire household.
   8 You have seized me, and it has become a witness; my leanness has risen up against me and testifies against me.
   9 His anger has torn me and persecuted me;he has gnashed at me with his teeth; my adversary locks his eyes on me.
   10 People have opened their mouths against me, they have struck my cheek in scorn; they unite together against me.
   11 God abandons me to evil men, and throws me into the hands of wicked men.
   12 I was in peace, and he has shattered me. He has seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;
   13 his archers surround me. Without pity he pierces my kidneys and pours out my gall on the ground.
   14 He breaks through against me, time and time again; he rushes against me like a warrior.
   15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and buried my horn in the dust;
   16 my face is reddened because of weeping, and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,
   17 although there is no violence in my hands and my prayer is pure.

An Appeal to God as Witness

   18 "O earth, do not cover my blood, nor let there be a secret place for my cry.
   19 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
   20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
   21 and he contends with God on behalf of man as a man pleads for his friend.
   22 For the years that lie ahead are few, and then I will go on the way of no return.

King James Version

   1 Then Job answered and said,
   2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
   3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
   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?
   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.
   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.
   20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
   21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
   22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.