16:1 Then Job replied:

2 "I have heard many things like these before.

What miserable comforters are you all!

3 Will there be an end to your windy words?

Or what provokes you that you answer?

4 I also could speak like you,

if you were in my place;

I could pile up words against you

and I could shake my head at you.

5 But I would strengthen you with my words;

comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

6 "But if I speak, my pain is not relieved,

and if I refrain from speaking

- how much of it goes away?

7 Surely now he has worn me out,

you have devastated my entire household.

8 You have seized me,

and it has become a witness;

my leanness has risen up against me

and testifies against me.

9 His anger has torn me and persecuted me;

he has gnashed at me with his teeth;

my adversary locks his eyes on me.

10 People have opened their mouths against me,

they have struck my cheek in scorn;

they unite together against me.

11 God abandons me to evil men,

and throws me into the hands of wicked men.

12 I was in peace, and he has shattered me.

He has seized me by the neck and crushed me.

He has made me his target;

13 his archers surround me.

Without pity he pierces my kidneys

and pours out my gall on the ground.

14 He breaks through against me, time and time again;

he rushes against me like a warrior.

15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,

and buried my horn in the dust;

16 my face is reddened because of weeping,

and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,

17 although there is no violence in my hands

and my prayer is pure.

18 "O earth, do not cover my blood,

nor let there be a secret place for my cry.

19 Even now my witness is in heaven;

my advocate is on high.

20 My intercessor is my friend

as my eyes pour out tears to God;

21 and he contends with God on behalf of man

as a man pleads for his friend.

22 For the years that lie ahead are few,

and then I will go on the way of no return.

The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® copyright © 1996, 2019, used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.