Job 16:2-19
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 16
2'I have heard many things like these; Miserable comforters are you all! 3Is there no end to windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer? 4I too could speak like you, If only I were in your place. I could compose words against you And shake my head at you. 5 Or I could strengthen you with my mouth, And the condolence of my lips could lessen your pain. 6'If I speak, my pain is not lessened, And if I refrain, what pain leaves me? 7But now He has exhausted me; You have laid waste all my group of loved ones. 8And you have shriveled me up, It has become a witness; And my infirmity rises up against me, It testifies to my face. 9His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My enemy glares at me. 10They have gaped at me with their mouths, They have slapped me on the cheek with contempt; They have massed themselves against me. 11God hands me over to criminals, And tosses me into the hands of the wicked. 12I was at ease, but He shattered me, And He has grasped me by my neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target. 13His arrows surround me. He splits my kidneys open without mercy; He pours out my bile on the ground. 14He breaks through me with breach after breach; He runs at me like a warrior. 15I have sewed sackcloth over my skin, And thrust my horn in the dust. 16My face is flushed from weeping, And deep darkness is on my eyelids, 17Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure. 18'Earth, do not cover my blood, And may there be no resting place for my cry. 19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And my advocate is on high.King James Version
5But 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?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 16
2I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters. 3Is there no end to your empty words? What provokes you that you continue testifying? 4If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you.
5Instead, I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.
6If I speak, my suffering is not relieved, and if I hold back, does any of it leave me?
7Surely he has now exhausted me. You have devastated my entire family.
8You have shriveled me up —it has become a witness; my frailty rises up against me and testifies to my face.
9His anger tears at me, and he harasses me. He gnashes his teeth at me. My enemy pierces me with his eyes.
10They open their mouths against me and strike my cheeks with contempt; they join themselves together against me.
11God hands me over to the unjust; he throws me to the wicked.
12I was at ease, but he shattered me; he seized me by the scruff of the neck and smashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target;
13his archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without mercy and pours my bile on the ground.
New Living Translation
Chapter 16
2'I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are! 3Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking? 4I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you. 5But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief. 6Instead, I suffer if I defend myself, and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.
7'O God, you have ground me down and devastated my family.
8As if to prove I have sinned, you’ve reduced me to skin and bones. My gaunt flesh testifies against me.
9God hates me and angrily tears me apart. He snaps his teeth at me and pierces me with his eyes.
10People jeer and laugh at me. They slap my cheek in contempt. A mob gathers against me.
11God has handed me over to sinners. He has tossed me into the hands of the wicked.
12'I was living quietly until he shattered me. He took me by the neck and broke me in pieces. Then he set me up as his target,
13and now his archers surround me. His arrows pierce me without mercy. The ground is wet with my blood.
14Again and again he smashes against me, charging at me like a warrior.
15I wear burlap to show my grief. My pride lies in the dust.
16My eyes are red with weeping; dark shadows circle my eyes.
17Yet I have done no wrong, and my prayer is pure.
English Standard Version
Chapter 16
2"I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all. 3Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? 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. 5I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. 6"If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me? 7Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company. 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 has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes 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 gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked. 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 slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground. 14He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior. 15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust. 16My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness, 17although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. 18"O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place. 19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.New International Version
Chapter 16
2"I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! 3Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? 4I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.
5But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6"Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.
7Surely, God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household.
8You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
9God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me; my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
10People open their mouths to jeer at me; they strike my cheek in scorn and unite together against me.
11God has turned me over to the ungodly and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
12All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;
13his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground.
New King James Version
