The Book of Job

16: 1Then Job answered and said,

 ^16:2I have heard many such things:

 Miserable comforters are ye all.

 ^16:3Shall vain words have an end?

 Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

 ^16:4I also could speak as ye do;

 If your soul were in my soul's stead,

 I could join words together against you,

 And shake my head at you.

 ^16:5But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

 And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

 ^16:6Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged;

 And though I forbear, what am I eased?

 ^16:7But now he hath made me weary:

 Thou hast made desolate all my company.

 ^16:8And thou hast laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me:

 And my leanness riseth up against me,

 It testifieth to my face.

 ^16:9He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me;

 He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth:

 Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

 ^16:10They have gaped upon me with their mouth;

 They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully:

 They gather themselves together against me.

 ^16:11God delivereth me to the ungodly,

 And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.

 ^16:12I was at ease, and he brake me asunder;

 Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces:

 He hath also set me up for his mark.

 ^16:13His archers compass me round about;

 He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare;

 He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

 ^16:14He breaketh me with breach upon breach;

 He runneth upon me like a giant.

 ^16:15I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin,

 And have laid my horn in the dust.

 ^16:16My face is red with weeping,

 And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

 ^16:17Although there is no violence in my hands,

 And my prayer is pure.
 
 

 ^16:18O earth, cover not thou my blood,

 And let my cry have no resting -place.

 ^16:19Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,

 And he that voucheth for me is on high.

 ^16:20My friends scoff at me:

 But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,

 ^16:21That he would maintain the right of a man with God,

 And of a son of man with his neighbor!

 ^16:22For when a few years are come,

 I shall go the way whence I shall not return.