Job’s Reply to Eliphaz76
16:1 Then Job answered and said,
16:2 I have heard many things like these;
miserable comforters1
are you all!
16:3 Will2
there be an end to your windy words?3
Or what provokes4
you that you answer?5
16:4 I also could speak6
like you,
if7
you were in my place;
I could pile up8
words against you
and I could shake my head at you.9
16:5 But10
I would strengthen11
you with my words,12
comfort from my lips would bring13
you relief.
Abandonment by God and Man
16:6 But14
If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,15
and if I refrain from speaking
—how16
much of it goes away?
16:7 Surely now he17
has worn me out,
you have devastated my entire household;
16:8 you have seized me,18
and it19
has become a witness;
my leanness20
has risen up against me
and testifies against me.
16:9 His21
anger has torn me22
and persecuted23
me;
he has gnashed at me with his teeth;
my adversary fastens24
his eyes against me.
16:10 Men25
have opened their mouths against me,
they have struck my cheek in scorn;26
they unite27
together against me.
16:11 God abandons me to evil28
men,29
and to the hands of wicked men he casts me.30
16:12 I was in peace, and he has shattered me;31
he has seized me by the neck and crushed me;32
he has made me his target,
16:13 his archers33
surround me;
Without pity34
he pierces35
my kidneys
and pours out my gall36
on the ground.
16:14 He breaks through against me, time and time
again;37
he rushes38
against me like a warrior.
16:15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,39
and buried40
my horn41
in the dust;
16:16 my face is reddened42
because of weeping,43
and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness;44
16:17 although45
there is no violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure.
An Appeal to God as Witness
16:18 O earth, do not cover my blood,46
nor let there be a secret47
place for my cry.
16:19 Even now my witness48
is in heaven;
my advocate49
is on high.
16:20 My intercessor is my friend50
as my eyes pour out51
tears to God;
16:21 and52
he contends with God on behalf of man
as a man53
pleads54
for his friend.
16:22 For the years that lie ahead are few,55
and then I will go on the way of no return.56