[[Job 15|<< Job 15]] | [[Job|Job]] | [[Job 17|Job 17 >>]] ### Job 16 1 THEN Job answered and said, ^1 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters _are_ ye all. ^2 3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldens thee that thou answerest? ^3 4 I also could speak as ye _do:_ if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. ^4 5 _But_ I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage _your_ _grief_. ^5 6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and _though_ I forbear, what am I eased? ^6 7 But now he has made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company. ^7 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. ^8 9 He tears _me_ in his wrath, who hates me: he gnashes upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpens his eyes upon me. ^9 10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. ^10 11 God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. ^11 12 I was at ease, but he has broken me asunder: he has also taken _me_ by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark. ^12 13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaves my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he pours out my gall upon the ground. ^13 14 He breaks me with breach upon breach, he runs upon me like a giant. ^14 15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust. ^15 16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids _is_ the shadow of death; ^16 17 Not for _any_ injustice in mine hands: also my prayer _is_ pure. ^17 18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. ^18 19 Also now, behold, my witness _is_ in heaven, and my record _is_ on high. ^19 20 My friends scorn me: _but_ mine eye pours out _tears_ unto God. ^20 21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man _pleads_ for his neighbor! ^21 22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way _whence_ I shall not return. ^22