Job 16

1 Then Job answered and said, 2 Many times I have heard such things; miserable comforters [are] ye all. 3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what is it that emboldens thee to answer? 4 I also could speak as ye [do]. I wish your soul were in my soul's stead, that I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you. 5 [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would assuage [the pain]. 6 Though if I speak, my pain does not cease; and if I forbear [to speak], it does not depart from me. 7 But now he has made me weary; thou hast made desolate all my company. 8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face. 9 His wrath has torn me and has been against me; he gnashed upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpened his eyes upon me. 10 They have opened their mouth against me; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. 11 God has delivered me unto the liar, and in the hands of the wicked he has caused me to tremble. 12 I was prosperous, but he has broken me asunder; he has taken [me] by my neck and shaken me to pieces and set me up for his mark. 13 His archers compassed me round about; he cleaved my kidneys asunder and did not spare; he poured out my gall upon the ground. 14 He broke me with breach upon breach; he ran upon me like a giant. 15 I have sewn sackcloth upon my skin and put dust over my head. 16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids [is] the shadow of death, 17 even though there is no injustice in my hands, and my prayer [has been] pure. 18 O earth, do not cover my blood; and let there be no place [where] my cry [is hidden]. 19 Certainly my witness [is] even now in the heavens, and my record [is] on high. 20 Those who dispute with me are my friends, [but] my eyes shall pour out [tears] unto God. 21 O that a man might dispute with God, as he can with his neighbour! 22 When the counted years are come, then I shall go the way from which I shall not return.: