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.

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.

5

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

6

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

7

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

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.

9

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

10

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

11

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

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.
13

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

14

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

15

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

16

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

17

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

18

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

19

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

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!

22

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