Job 16

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Then Job answered and said:	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 I have heard this sort of thing many times. Wearisome comforters are you all!	2 How often have I heard al this before! What sorry comforters you are!
3 Is there no end to windy words? Or what sickness have you that you speak on?	3 'When wil these windy arguments be over?' or again, 'What sickness drives you to defend yourself?'
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 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 I could strengthen you with talk, or shake my head with silent lips.	5 and speak words of encouragement, and then have no more to say.
6 If I speak, this pain I have will not be checked; if I leave off, it will not depart from me.	6 When I speak, my suffering does not stop; if I say nothing, is it in any way reduced?
7 But now that I am exhausted and stunned, all my company has closed in on me.	7 And now it is driving me to distraction; you have struck my whole acquaintanceship with horror,
8 As a witness there rises up my traducer, speaking openly against me;	8 now it rounds on me, my slanderer has now turned witness, he appears against me, accusing me faceto face;
9 I am the prey his wrath assails, he gnashes his teeth against me. My enemies lord it over me;	9 his anger tears and hounds me with gnashing teeth. My enemies look daggers at me,
10 their mouths are agape to bite me. They smite me on the cheek insultingly; they are all enlisted 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 has given me over to the impious; into the clutches of the wicked he has cast me.	11 Yes, God has handed me over to the godless, and cast me 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 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 arrows strike me from all directions, He pierces my sides without mercy, he pours 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 pierces me with thrust upon thrust; he attacks me like a warrior.	14 Breach after breach he drives through me, charging on me like a warrior.
15 I have fastened sackcloth over my skin, and have laid my brow in the dust.	15 I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, thrown my forehead in the dust.
16 My face is inflamed with weeping and there is darkness over my eyes,	16 My face is red with tears, and shadow dark as death covers my eyelids.
17 Although my hands are free from violence, and my prayer is sincere.	17 Nonetheless, my hands are free of violence, and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not my blood, nor let my outcry come to rest!	18 Cover not my blood, O earth, and let my cry mount without cease!
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my spokesman is on high.	19 Henceforth I have a witness in heaven, my defender is there on high.
20 My friends it is who wrong me; before God my eyes drop tears,	20 Interpreter of my thoughts there with God, before whom flow my tears,
21 That he may do justice for a mortal in his presence and decide between a man and his neighbor.	21 let my anguish plead the cause of a man at grips with God, just as a man might defend his fel ow.
22 For my years are numbered now, and I am on a journey from which I shall not return.	22 For the years of my life are numbered, and I am leaving by the road of no return.