Job

Job 16 ©

1 Job reproveth his friends of inhumanity toward him: 7 he pathetically describeth his unhappy case; 17 still protesting his innocence, for which he maketh appeal to God.

1

THEN Job answered and said,

2

I have heard many asuch things: 1miserable comforters are ye all.

a ch. 12.3.
3

Shall 2vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

4

I also bcould speak as ye do : if your soul were in my soul's *stead, I could heap up words against you, and cshake mine head at you.

b 1Pe. 3.9. Mat. 5.44. 1Co. 4.13.
c 2Ki. 19.21. Ps. 22.7,8; 44.14; 109.25. Je. 18.16. La. 2.15.
5

But dI would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should *asswage your grief.

d Ga. 6.1,2. ch. 42.11; 4.4. Is. 35.3,4. 2Co. 1.4. Ps. 27.14. Pr. 27.9.
6

Though I speak, emy grief is not *asswaged: and though I forbear, 3what am I eased?

e Ps. 22.1,2; 77.1-10; 88.1-18. La. 3; 5.
7

But now he hath made me fweary: thou hast gmade desolate all hmy company.

f Ps. 88.15. ch. 10.1. Mat. 11.28. Is. 50.4.
g ch. 1.18,19.
h ch. 1.15-19.
8

And thou ihast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me : and my jleanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

i Pr. 17.22. ch. 10.17. La. 3.4. ch. 15.27. Ep. 5.27.
j Ps. 109.24.
9

He kteareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: lhe gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy msharpeneth his eyes upon me.

k ch. 10.16,17; 13.24. Ps. 7.2; 50.22; 37.12. Is. 38.13. Ho. 5.14. La. 2.16; 3.10.
l Ps. 35.16.
m Ps. 7.12.
10

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

n Ps. 22.13; 35.15,16,21. 2Co. 11.20,21. 1Ki. 22.24. Mi. 5.1. La. 3.30,46; 2.15. Ac. 7.54.
11

God 4hath odelivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

o ch. 1.13-19; 2.7. Jn. 18.11. 2Co. 12.7. Ps. 22.7-21; 89.38. Ac. 4.27,28.
12

I was pat ease, but he hath broken me *asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and qset me up for his mark.

p ch. 1; 2; 29.
q ch. 7.12,20. La. 3.12,13.
13

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

r ch. 6.4. Ge. 49.23,24. De. 32.23. Ps. 7.12,13; 22.12-17. Ro. 8.32.
s La. 2.11.
14

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

t ch. 1.13-19; 2.1-10; 6.4; 10.16,17. Ps. 42.7.
u ch. 30.14.
15

I have vsewed sackcloth upon my skin, and wdefiled my horn in the dust.

v 1Ki. 21.27. Is. 22.12. 2Ki. 6.30. Jonah 3.5.
w ch. 30.19. Ps. 7.5; 75.4,10. 1Sa. 2.10.
16

xMy face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

x La. 2.11. Is. 52.14.
17

Not yfor any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer zis pure.

y ch. 31; 27.5,6. 1Sa. 12.3. Ps. 44.17-21.
z 1Ti. 2.8. Ps. 26.6; 66.18,19.
18

O aearth, bcover not thou my blood, and let my ccry have no place.

a De. 32.1. Is. 1.2. Je. 22.29.
b Ge. 4.11. Is. 26.21. Eze. 24.7; 34.17.
c ch. 27.9. Ps. 66.18,19. Ge. 4.10.
19

Also now, behold, dmy witness is in heaven, and my record is 5on high.

d Ro. 1.9; 9.1. 2Co. 1.23; 11.31. 1Th. 2.10. Phi. 1.8.
20

My friends 6scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

21

O that one might eplead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his 7neighbour!

e ch. 9.34,35; 13.3,22; 31.35. Ec. 6.10. Is. 45.9. Ro. 9.20.
22

When 8a few years are come, then I shall go the way fwhence I shall not return.

f ch. 7.9,10; 14.5. 2Sa. 12.23. Ec. 12.5.