Chapter 16

  Then Job answered and said, 

  I have heard many such things: miserable comforters [are] ye all. 

  Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 

  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. 

  [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage [your grief]. 

  Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and [though] I forbear, what am I eased? 

  But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. 

  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. 

  He teareth [me] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. 

  They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. 

  God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 

  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. 

  His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground. 

  He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant. 

  I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. 

  My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids [is] the shadow of death; 

  Not for [any] injustice in mine hands: also my prayer [is] pure. 

  O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. 

  Also now, behold, my witness [is] in heaven, and my record [is] on high. 

  My friends scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God. 

  O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbour! 

  When a few years are come, then I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.