Job 16:1-22
16 Then responded Job and said:—
2 I have heard many such things, Wearisome comforters are ye all!
3 Is there to be an end to windy words? Or what so strongly exciteth thee that thou must respond?
4 I also like you could speak,—If your soul were in the place of my soul I could string together words against you, And could therewith shake over you my head.
5 I could make you determined by my mouth, And then my lip-solace should restrain you.
6 Though I do speak unassuaged is my stinging pain,—And if I forbear of what am I relieved?
7 But now hath he wearied me, Thou hast destroyed all my family;
8 And having captured me it hath served as a witness; And so my wasting away hath risen up against me, In my face it answereth.
9 His anger hath torn and persecuted me, He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth, Mine adversary hath sharpened his eyes for me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth, With reproach have they smitten my cheek, Together against me have they closed their ranks.
11 God doth abandon me to him that is perverse, And into the hands of the lawless he throweth me headlong.
12 At ease was I when he shattered me, Yea he seized me by my neck and dashed me in pieces, Then set me up for himself as a mark:
13 His archers came round against me, He clave asunder my reins and spared not, He poured out on the earth my gall:
14 He made a breach in me, breach upon breach, He ran upon me like a mighty man.
15 Sackcloth sewed I on my skin, And rolled—in the dust—my horn:
16 My face is reddened from weeping, And upon mine eyelashes is the death-shade:—
17 Though no violence was in my hands, And my prayer was pure.
18 O earth! do not cover my blood, And let there be no place for mine outcry.
19 Even now lo! in the heavens is my witness,
20 And he that voucheth for me is on high. My friends are they who scorn me, Unto God hath mine eye shed tears:—
21 That one might plead for a man with God,—Even a son of man, for his friend!
22 When a few years come Then by a path by which I shall not return shall I depart.
