16:1 Then Job answered:
16:1 Then Job answered:

16:2 "I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.
16:2 "I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.

16:3 Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
16:3 Have windy words no limit? Or what provokes you that you keep on talking?

16:4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.
16:4 I also could talk as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.

16:5 I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
16:5 I could encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.

16:6 "If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
16:6 "If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?

16:7 Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company.
16:7 Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company.

16:8 And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness has risen up against me, it testifies to my face.
16:8 And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; my leanness has risen up against me, and it testifies to my face.

16:9 He has torn me in his wrath, and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
16:9 He has torn me in his wrath, and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.

16:10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth, they have struck me insolently upon the cheek, they mass themselves together against me.
16:10 They have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.

16:11 God gives me up to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
16:11 God gives me up to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

16:12 I was at ease, and he broke me asunder; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target,
16:12 I was at ease, and he broke me in two; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;

16:13 his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys, and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
16:13 his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys, and shows no mercy; he pours out my gall on the ground.

16:14 He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.
16:14 He bursts upon me again and again; he rushes at me like a warrior.

16:15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my strength in the dust.
16:15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my strength in the dust.

16:16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness;
16:16 My face is red with weeping, and deep darkness is on my eyelids,

16:17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
16:17 though there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

16:18 "O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.
16:18 "O earth, do not cover my blood; let my outcry find no resting place.

16:19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he that vouches for me is on high.
16:19 Even now, in fact, my witness is in heaven, and he that vouches for me is on high.

16:20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,
16:20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,

16:21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, like that of a man with his neighbor.
16:21 that he would maintain the right of a mortal with God, as one does for a neighbor.

16:22 For when a few years have come I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
16:22 For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return.