Job 16

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Then Job answered and said:	1 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard this sort of thing many times. Wearisome comforters are you all!	2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Is there no end to windy words? Or what sickness have you that you speak on?	3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4 I also could talk as you do, were you in my place. I could declaim over you, or wag my head at you;	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.
5 I could strengthen you with talk, or shake my head with silent lips.	5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6 If I speak, this pain I have will not be checked; if I leave off, it will not depart from me.	6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now that I am exhausted and stunned, all my company has closed in on me.	7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 As a witness there rises up my traducer, speaking openly against me;	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.
9 I am the prey his wrath assails, he gnashes his teeth against me. My enemies lord it over me;	9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 their mouths are agape to bite me. They smite me on the cheek insultingly; they are all enlisted against 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.
11 God has given me over to the impious; into the clutches of the wicked he has cast me.	11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was in peace, but he dislodged me; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He has set me up for a target;	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.
13 his arrows strike me from all directions, He pierces my sides without mercy, he pours out my gall upon the ground.	13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He pierces me with thrust upon thrust; he attacks me like a warrior.	14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have fastened sackcloth over my skin, and have laid my brow in the dust.	15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is inflamed with weeping and there is darkness over my eyes,	16 My face is foul with weeping, and my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Although my hands are free from violence, and my prayer is sincere.	17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not my blood, nor let my outcry come to rest!	18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my spokesman is on high.	19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends it is who wrong me; before God my eyes drop tears,	20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 That he may do justice for a mortal in his presence and decide between a man and his neighbor.	21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22 For my years are numbered now, and I am on a journey from which I shall not return.	22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.