Job 16
16
1 THEN JOB answered,
2 I have heard many such things; wearisome and miserable comforters are you all!
3 Will your futile words of wind have no end? Or what makes you so bold to answer [me like this]?
4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my stead; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.
5 [But] I would strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would soothe your suffering.
6 If I speak [to you miserable comforters], my sorrow is not soothed or lessened; and if I refrain [from speaking], in what way am I eased? [I hardly know whether to answer you or be silent.]
7 But now [God] has taken away my strength. You [O Lord] have made desolate all my family and associates.
8 You have laid firm hold on me and have shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; and my leanness [and wretched state of body] are further evidence [against me]; [they] testify to my face.
9 [My adversary Satan] has torn [me] in his wrath and hated and persecuted me; he has gnashed upon me with his teeth; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 [The forces of evil] have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me upon the cheek insolently; they massed themselves together and conspired unanimously against me. [Ps. 22:13; 35:21.]
11 God has delivered me to the ungodly (to the evil one) and cast me [headlong] into the hands of the wicked (Satan's host).
12 I was living at ease, but [Satan] crushed me and broke me apart; yes, he seized me by the neck and dashed me in pieces; then he set me up for his target.
13 [Satan's] arrows whiz around me. He slashes open my vitals and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 [Satan] stabs me, making breach after breach and attacking again and again; he runs at me like a giant and irresistible warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth over my skin [as a sign of mourning] and have defiled my horn (my insignia of strength) in the dust.
16 My face is red and swollen with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death [my eyes are dimmed],
17 Although there is no guilt or violence in my hands and my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry have no resting-place [where it will cease being heard].
19 Even now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, and He who vouches for me is on high. [Rom. 1:9.]
20 My friends scorn me, but my eye pours out tears to God.
21 Oh, that there might be one who would plead for a man with God and that he would maintain his right with Him, as a son of man pleads with or for his neighbor! [I Tim. 2:5.]
22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return.
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Job 16: AMPC
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1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Job 16
16
Job's Reply
1Then Job answered and said,
2I have heard many such things:
Miserable comforters are ye all.
3Shall vain words have an end?
Or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4I 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 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,
And the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged:
And though I forbear, what am I eased?
7But now he hath made me weary:
Thou hast made desolate all my company.
8And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me:
And my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.
9He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me:
He gnasheth upon me with his teeth;
Mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10They have gaped upon me with their mouth;
They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully;
They have gathered themselves together against me.
11God hath delivered me to the ungodly,
And turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12I 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.
13His archers compass me round about,
He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare;
He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14He breaketh me with breach upon breach,
He runneth upon me like a giant.
15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin,
And defiled my horn in the dust.
16My face is foul with weeping,
And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17Not for any injustice in mine hands:
Also my prayer is pure.
18O earth, cover not thou my blood,
And let my cry have no place.
19Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven,
And my record is on high.
20My friends scorn me:
but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21O that one might plead for a man with God,
As a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22When a few years are come,
Then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
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