Chapter 16

  Then Job answered, and said:  

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  I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.  

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  Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?  

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  I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul.  

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  I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.  

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  I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.  

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  But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.  

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  But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.  

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  My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.  

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  He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes.  

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  They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.  

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  God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.  

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  I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark.  

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  He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth.  

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  He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.  

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  I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.  

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  My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.  

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  These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.  

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  O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.  

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  For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.  

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  My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.  

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  And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!  

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  For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which l shall not return.  

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