Job 16

CHAPTER 16 Job's Friends Are Bad Comforters

1 And undertaking, Job says, 2 I have heard [²such things ¹many]. [³comforters ²bad ¹You are all]. 3 For what, [²order ¹is there] in words of wind? or what shall it trouble you that you answer? 4 I also [²as ³you ¹could speak] if [³laid ¹indeed ²your life] instead of my life. So then I shall assail against you with words, and I will shake [²as ³you ¹my head]. 5 And may that there be strength in my mouth, [⁴the movement ¹then ⁵of my lips ²I would not ³spare]. 6 For if I shall speak [²shall not ³ache ¹my wound]; and if also I keep silent, how less will I be pierced? 7 But now, [²me exhausted ¹he has made], [²moron ¹a festering], and it took hold of me. 8 For [²a testimony ¹I became], and [²rose up ³in ⁴me ¹my lie]; according to my face it was answered. 9 In anger the one dealing with me cast me down; he gnashed against me with his teeth; the arrows of his marauders [²upon ³me ¹have fallen]; 10 [³points ⁴of his eyes ¹he assailed me ²with the sharp]; he smote me onto my knees; and with one accord they ran upon me. 11 [⁴delivered ¹For ⁵me ²the ³ lord] into the hands of the unjust, and unto the impious he tossed me. 12 Making peace he effaced me; taking me by the hair of the head he plucked it out; he placed me as if an exemplar. 13 They encircled me with lances, casting into my kidney, not sparing; they poured out [²onto ³the ⁴earth ¹my bile]. 14 They threw me down, downfall upon downfall; they ran against me prevailing; 15 [²sackcloth ¹they sewed] upon my hide; and my strength [²in ³the ground ¹was extinguished]. 16 My belly burns from weeping, and upon my eyelids a shadow of death. 17 [⁴unjust thing ¹And ³not one ²there was] in my hands, [³vow ¹and ²my] is pure. 18 O earth, you should not cover over the blood of my flesh, nor may there be a place for my cry. 19 And now behold, [²is in ³the heavens ¹my witness], and my joint witness is in the highest. 20 May [³arrive ¹my ²supplication] unto the lord, and before him may [³drip tears ¹my ²eye]. 21 And may it be reproof to man before the lord, and to a son of man to his neighbor. 22 [³years ¹But ²counted] have come; and in the way in which I shall not be returned -- I shall go.