|
The Book of Job, Chapter 16
|
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.
|