Job 16
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1Then Job answered and said:1Then Job answered and said:
2“I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!2“I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.
3Shall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?3Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4I also could speak as you do, If your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up words against you, And shake my head at you;4I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.
5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.5I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6“Though I speak, my grief is not relieved; And if I remain silent, how am I eased?6“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7But now He has worn me out; You have made desolate all my company.7Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company.
8You have shriveled me up, And it is a witness against me; My leanness rises up against me And bears witness to my face.8And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.
9He tears me in His wrath, and hates me; He gnashes at me with His teeth; My adversary sharpens His gaze on me.9He has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10They gape at me with their mouth, They strike me reproachfully on the cheek, They gather together against me.10Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.
11God has delivered me to the ungodly, And turned me over to the hands of the wicked.11God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12I was at ease, but He has shattered me; He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces; He has set me up for His target,12I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;
13His archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours out my gall on the ground.13his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
14He breaks me with wound upon wound; He runs at me like a warrior.14He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.
15“I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, And laid my head in the dust.15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust.
16My face is flushed from weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;16My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness,
17Although no violence is in my hands, And my prayer is pure.17although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18“O earth, do not cover my blood, And let my cry have no resting place!18“O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.
19Surely even now my witness is in heaven, And my evidence is on high.19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.
20My friends scorn me; My eyes pour out tears to God.20My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,
21Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, As a man pleads for his neighbor!21that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.
22For when a few years are finished, I shall go the way of no return.22For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Job 15
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