Job 16:6-17:2

New International Version

⁶ “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;
    and if I refrain, it does not go away.^(A)
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out;^(B)
    you have devastated my entire household.^(C)
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness;
    my gauntness^(D) rises up and testifies against me.^(E)
9 God assails me and tears^(F) me in his anger^(G)
    and gnashes his teeth at me;^(H)
    my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.^(I)
10 People open their mouths^(J) to jeer at me;^(K)
    they strike my cheek^(L) in scorn
    and unite together against me.^(M)
11 God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.^(N)
12 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.^(O)
He has made me his target;^(P)
13     his archers surround me.^(Q)
Without pity, he pierces^(R) my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground.
¹⁴ Again and again^(S) he bursts upon me;
    he rushes at me like a warrior.^(T)

¹⁵ “I have sewed sackcloth^(U) over my skin
    and buried my brow in the dust.^(V)
16 My face is red with weeping,^(W)
    dark shadows ring my eyes;^(X)
17 yet my hands have been free of violence^(Y)
    and my prayer is pure.^(Z)

¹⁸ “Earth, do not cover my blood;^(AA)
    may my cry^(AB) never be laid to rest!^(AC)
19 Even now my witness^(AD) is in heaven;^(AE)
    my advocate is on high.^(AF)
20 My intercessor^(AG) is my friend^[a](AH)
    as my eyes pour out^(AI) tears^(AJ) to God;
²¹ on behalf of a man he pleads^(AK) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

²² “Only a few years will pass
    before I take the path of no return.^(AL)