Job 16

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Then Job answered, and said:	1 Then Job answered and said:
2 I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.	2 I have heard this sort of thing many times. Wearisome comforters are you all!
3 Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?	3 Is there no end to windy words? Or what sickness have you that you speak on?
4 I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul.	4 I also could talk as you do, were you in my place. I could declaim over you, or wag my head at you;
5 I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.	5 I could strengthen you with talk, or shake my head with silent lips.
6 I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.	6 If I speak, this pain I have will not be checked; if I leave off, it will not depart from me.
7 But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me.	7 But now that I am exhausted and stunned, all my company has closed in on me.
8 But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.	8 As a witness there rises up my traducer, speaking openly against me;
9 My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.	9 I am the prey his wrath assails, he gnashes his teeth against me. My enemies lord it over me;
10 He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes.	10 their mouths are agape to bite me. They smite me on the cheek insultingly; they are all enlisted against me.
11 They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains.	11 God has given me over to the impious; into the clutches of the wicked he has cast me.
12 God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered 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;
13 I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark.	13 his arrows strike me from all directions, He pierces my sides without mercy, he pours out my gall upon the ground.
14 He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth.	14 He pierces me with thrust upon thrust; he attacks me like a warrior.
15 He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.	15 I have fastened sackcloth over my skin, and have laid my brow in the dust.
16 I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.	16 My face is inflamed with weeping and there is darkness over my eyes,
17 My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.	17 Although my hands are free from violence, and my prayer is sincere.
18 These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.	18 O earth, cover not my blood, nor let my outcry come to rest!
19 O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.	19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my spokesman is on high.
20 For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.	20 My friends it is who wrong me; before God my eyes drop tears,
21 My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.	21 That he may do justice for a mortal in his presence and decide between a man and his neighbor.
22 And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion!	22 For my years are numbered now, and I am on a journey from which I shall not return.
23 For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which l shall not return.