Chapter 16

  And Job answered and said,  

-

  I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.  

-

  Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?  

-

  I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;  

-

  [But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].  

-

  If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?  

-

  But now he hath made me weary; ... thou hast made desolate all my family;  

-

  Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.  

-

  His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.  

-

  They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.  

-

  ùGod hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.  

-

  I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.  

-

  His arrows encompass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.  

-

  He breaketh me with breach upon breach; he runneth upon me like a mighty man.  

-

  I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled my horn in the dust.  

-

  My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;  

-

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

-

  O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!  

-

  Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.  

-

  My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God.  

-

  Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!  

-

  For years [few] in number shall pass, -- and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.  

-