Job Decries His Comforters

1But Job answered and said,

2I have heard many such things: poor comforters are ye all.

3What! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder thee from answering?

4I also will speak as ye do: if indeed your soul were in my soul's stead, (16:5) then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.

5(16:6) And would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.

6(16:7) For if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?

7(16:8) But now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and thou hast laid hold of me.

8(16:9) My falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.

9(16:10) In his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.

10(16:11) He has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp spear he has smitten me down upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.

11(16:12) For the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.

12(16:13) When I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.

13(16:14) They surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing me they poured out my gall upon the ground.

14(16:15) They overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in their might.

15(16:16) They sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.

16(16:17) My belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.

17(16:18) Yet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

18(16:19) Earth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.

19(16:20) And now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.

20(16:21) Let my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.

21(16:22) Oh that a man might plead before the Lord, even as the son of man with his neighbor!

22(16:23) But my years are numbered and their end come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.