Job 16

1 But Job answered and said, 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are you all! 3 What! Is there any reason in vain words? Or what will hinder you from answering? 4 I also will speak as you do-if indeed your soul were in my soul's place, (16:5) then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you! 5 (16:6) And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips. 6 (16:7) For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound, and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded any less? 7 (16:8) But now He has made me weary, and a worn out fool, and He has laid hold of me. 8 (16:9) My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face. 9 (16:10) In His anger He has cast me down; He has gnashed His teeth upon me: the weapons of His robbers have fallen upon me. 10 (16:11) He has attacked me with the keen glances of His eyes; with His sharp spear He has struck me down upon my knees, and they have run upon me with one accord. 11 (16:12) For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly. 12 (16:13) When I was at peace He distracted me: He took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: He set me up as a mark. 13 (16:14) They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing me they poured out my gall upon the ground. 14 (16:15) They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in their might. 15 (16:16) They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground. 16 (16:17) My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids. 17 (16:18) Yet there was no injustice on my hands, and my prayer is pure. 18 (16:19) Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place. 19 (16:20) And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my Advocate is on high. 20 (16:21) Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let my eye weep before Him. 21 (16:22) Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even as the son of man with his neighbor! 22 (16:23) But my years are numbered and their end has come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.