The Book of Job

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- Kapitel 16 -

Job reproaches his merciless friends

Then Job, answering, said:

I have often heard such things; you are all aggravating comforters.

Will there be no end to windy words? Or is it at all a burden to you, if you speak?

I, too, can speak like you; and I also wish that your soul favored my soul.

I would also comfort you with speeches and would wag my head over you.

I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as if being lenient to you.

But what can I do? When I am speaking, my grief will not be quiet; and if I am quiet, it will not withdraw from me.

But now my grief has crushed me, and all my limbs have been reduced to nothing.

My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a liar rises up against my face, contradicting me.

He has gathered together his fury towards me, and, threatening me, he has roared against me with his teeth; my enemy has beheld me with terrible eyes.

They have opened their mouths against me, and, reproaching me, they have struck me on the cheek; they are nourished by my sufferings.

God has confined me with the immoral, and he has delivered me into the hands of the impious.

I, who once was wealthy, am now crushed. He has grabbed me by my neck; he has broken me and has placed me before him as a sign.

He has surrounded me with his lances. He has severely wounded my lower back, he has not been lenient, and he has poured out my organs upon the earth.

He has cut me with wound after wound. He has rushed upon me like a giant.

I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, and I have covered my body with ashes.

My face is swollen from weeping, and my eyelids have dimmed my vision.

These things I have endured without iniquity in my hand, while I held pure prayers before God.

O earth, do not conceal my blood, nor let my outcry find a hiding place in you.

For behold, my witness is in heaven, and my confidante is on high.

My friends are full of words; my eye rains tears upon God.

And I wish that a man might be so judged before God, just as the son of man is judged with his assistant!

For behold, a few years pass by, and I am walking a path by which I will not return.

Job reproaches his merciless friends

Then Job answered,

“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!

Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?

I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,

but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.

“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?

But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.

You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.

He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.

They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.

God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.

I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.

His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.

He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.

I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.

My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,

although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.

My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,

that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!

For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.