Job 16

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Job answered and said,	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.	2 How often have I heard al this before! What sorry comforters you are!
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?	3 'When wil these windy arguments be over?' or again, 'What sickness drives you to defend yourself?'
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 Oh yes! I too could talk as you do, if you were in my place; I could overwhelm you with speeches,shaking my head over you,
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.	5 and speak words of encouragement, and then have no more to say.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?	6 When I speak, my suffering does not stop; if I say nothing, is it in any way reduced?
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.	7 And now it is driving me to distraction; you have struck my whole acquaintanceship with horror,
8 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.	8 now it rounds on me, my slanderer has now turned witness, he appears against me, accusing me faceto face;
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.	9 his anger tears and hounds me with gnashing teeth. My enemies look daggers at me,
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 and open gaping jaws. Their sneers strike like slaps in the face; and they all set on me at once.
11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.	11 Yes, God has handed me over to the godless, and cast me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.	12 I was living at peace, until he made me totter, taking me by the neck to shatter me. He has set me upas his target:
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.	13 he shoots his arrows at me from all sides, pitilessly pierces my loins, and pours my gal out on theground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.	14 Breach after breach he drives through me, charging on me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.	15 I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, thrown my forehead in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and my eyelids is the shadow of death;	16 My face is red with tears, and shadow dark as death covers my eyelids.
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.	17 Nonetheless, my hands are free of violence, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.	18 Cover not my blood, O earth, and let my cry mount without cease!
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.	19 Henceforth I have a witness in heaven, my defender is there on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.	20 Interpreter of my thoughts there with God, before whom flow my tears,
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!	21 let my anguish plead the cause of a man at grips with God, just as a man might defend his fel ow.
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.	22 For the years of my life are numbered, and I am leaving by the road of no return.