Chapter 16

 Then Job answered and said,

 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.

 But I would strengthen you with my mouth and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.

 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

 And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves against me.

 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

 I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.

 His archers encompass me; he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids are the shades of death;

 Not for any injustice in my hands: also my prayer is pure.

 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

 My friends scorn me: but my eye poureth out tears to God.

 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!

 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.