Job 16:5-22
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 16
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. 20My friends are my scoffers; My eye weeps to God, 21That one might plead for a man with God As a son of man with his neighbor! 22For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return.King James Version
Chapter 16
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
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.
14He breaks through my defenses again and again; he charges at me like a warrior.
15I have sewn sackcloth over my skin; I have buried my strength in the dust.
16My face has grown red with weeping, and darkness covers my eyes,
17although my hands are free from violence and my prayer is pure.
18Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help find no resting place.
19Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is in the heights!
20My friends scoff at me as I weep before God.
21I wish that someone might argue for a man with God just as anyone would for a friend.
22For only a few years will pass before I go the way of no return.
New Living Translation
Chapter 16
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.
18'O earth, do not conceal my blood. Let it cry out on my behalf.
19Even now my witness is in heaven. My advocate is there on high.
20My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God.
21I need someone to mediate between God and me, as a person mediates between friends.
22For soon I must go down that road from which I will never return.
English Standard Version
Chapter 16
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. 20My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God, 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 have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return.New International Version
Chapter 16
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.
14Again and again he bursts upon me; he rushes at me like a warrior.
15"I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and buried my brow in the dust.
16My face is red with weeping, dark shadows ring my eyes;
New King James Version
