Job - Chapter 16 - A Conservative Version
- Then Job answered, and said,
- I have heard many such things. Miserable comforters are ye all.
- Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes thee that thou answer?
- I also could speak as ye do, if your soul were in my soul's stead. I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.
- [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].
- Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged, and though I forbear, what am I eased?
- But now he has made me weary. Thou have made desolate all my company.
- And thou have laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]. And my leanness rises up against me; it testifies to my face.
- He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed upon me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes upon me.
- They have gaped upon me with their mouth. They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
- God delivers me to the perverse, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
- I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yea, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his mark.
- His archers encompass me round about. He splits my reins apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall upon the ground.
- He breaks me with breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a giant.
- I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my horn in the dust.
- My face is red with weeping, and the shadow of death is on my eyelids,
- although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
- O earth, do not cover thou my blood, and let my cry have no [resting] place.
- Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who vouches for me is on high.
- My friends scoff at me. My eye pours out tears to God
- that he would maintain the right of a man with God, and of a son of man with his neighbor!
- For when a few years are come, I shall go the way where I shall not return.