Job 16

1Then Job replied and said,

2I have heard many things like these. All of you are grievous comforters.

3Is there an end to windy words? Or what emboldens you that you answer?

4I too would speak like you—if only your soul were in place of my soul, I would string words together against you and shake my head at you.

5I would fortify you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips would assuage your grief.

6Though I speak, my grief is not relieved; though I forbear, what goes away from me?

7But now he has wearied me; you have devastated all my company.

8You have shriveled me, which has become a witness against me; my leanness rises up in me against my face, testifying.

9His anger has torn me and he has opposed me; he has gnashed at me with his teeth; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.

10They gaped at me with their mouths in reproach, struck my cheeks, and banded together against me.

11God hands me over to the ungodly and flings me into the hands of the wicked.

12I was at peace, but he tore me apart; he seized me by the neck and shattered me to pieces, then set me up as his target.

13His archers surround me, he splits my kidneys without pity, and pours my gall onto the ground.

14He breaks me with breach after breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.

15I have sewn sackcloth to my skin and debased my horn in the dust.

16My face is smeared red from weeping, and the shadow of death is on my eyelids.

17My hands bear no violence, and my prayer is pure.

18Earth, do not cover my blood, and let there be no place for my cry.

19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, my testifier on high.

20My friends deride me; my eyes pour out tears to God.

21that he would argue for a man with God, for a son of man with his fellow!

22For when a few years come to me, I shall go the path from which I will not return.