16:1 Then Job answered and said,
16:1 Then Job answered,

16:2 I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.
16:2 "I have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are you all.

16:3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
16:3 "Is there [no] limit to windy words? Or what plagues you that you answer?

16:4 I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
16:4 "I too could speak like you, If I were in your place. I could compose words against you, And shake my head at you.

16:5 (But) I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage (your grief).
16:5 "I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips could lessen [your pain.]

16:6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?
16:6 "If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I hold back, what has left me?

16:7 But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.
16:7 "But now He has exhausted me; Thou hast laid waste all my company.

16:8 And thou hast laid fast hold on me, (which) is a witness (against me): And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.
16:8 "And Thou hast shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my leanness rises up against me, It testifies to my face.

16:9 He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
16:9 "His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares at me.

16:10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.
16:10 "They have gaped at me with their mouth, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves against me.

16:11 God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
16:11 "God hands me over to ruffians, And tosses me into the hands of the wicked.

16:12 I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.
16:12 "I was at ease, but He shattered me, And He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.

16:13 His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
16:13 "His arrows surround me. Without mercy He splits my kidneys open; He pours out my gall on the ground.

16:14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
16:14 "He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior.

16:15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.
16:15 "I have sewed sackcloth over my skin, And thrust my horn in the dust.

16:16 My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
16:16 "My face is flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids,

16:17 Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
16:17 Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.

16:18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no (resting)- place.
16:18 "O earth, do not cover my blood, And let there be no [resting] place for my cry.

16:19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.
16:19 "Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.

16:20 My friends scoff at me: (But) mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
16:20 "My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God.

16:21 That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!
16:21 "O that a man might plead with God As a man with his neighbor!

16:22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
16:22 "For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.