Job 16
King James Version
16 Then Job answered and said,
2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
4 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 mine head at you.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
8 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.
9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12 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.
13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Job 16
1599 Geneva Bible
16 1 Job moved by the importunacy of his friends, 7 Counteth in what extremity he is. 19 And taketh God to witness of his innocence.
1 But Job answered and said,
2 I have oftentimes heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall there be none end of words of [a]wind? or what maketh thee bold so to [b]answer?
4 I could also speak as ye do: (but would God your [c]soul were in my soul’s stead) I could keep you company in speaking, and could [d]shake mine head at you,
5 But I would strengthen you [e]with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips should assuage your sorrow.
6 Though I speak, my sorrow [f]cannot be assuaged: though I cease, what release have I?
7 But now [g]he maketh me weary: O God, thou hast made all my [h]congregation desolate,
8 And hast made me full of [i]wrinkles which is a witness thereof, and my leanness riseth up in me, testifying the same in my face.
9 [j]His wrath hath torn me, and he hateth me, and gnasheth upon me with his teeth: mine enemy hath sharpened his eyes against me.
10 They have opened their mouths upon me, and smitten me on the [k]cheek in reproach: they gathered themselves together against me.
11 God hath delivered me to the unjust, and hath made me to turn out of the way by the [l]hands of the wicked.
12 I was in wealth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the neck and beaten me, and set me as a mark for himself.
13 His [m]archers compass me round about: he cutteth my reins, and doth not spare, and poureth my gall [n]upon the ground.
14 He hath broken me with one breaking upon another, and runneth upon me like a giant.
15 I have sowed a sackcloth upon my skin, and have abased mine [o]horn unto the dust.
16 My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is upon mine eyes,
17 Though there be no wickedness in [p]mine hands, and my prayer [q]be pure.
18 O earth, cover not thou my [r]blood, and let my crying find no place.
19 For lo, now my [s]witness is in the heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends [t]speak eloquently against me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
21 Oh that a man might [u]plead with God, as man with his neighbor!
22 For the years accounted come, and I shall go the way, whence I shall not return.
Footnotes
- Job 16:3 Which serve for vain ostentation and for no true comfort.
- Job 16:3 For Eliphaz did reply against Job’s answer.
- Job 16:4 I would you felt that which I do.
- Job 16:4 That is, mock at your misery, as you do at mine.
- Job 16:5 If this were in my power, yet would I comfort you, and not do as ye do to me.
- Job 16:6 If they would say, Why dost thou not then comfort thyself? he answereth, that the judgments of God are more heavy than he is able to assuage either by words or silence.
- Job 16:7 Meaning, God.
- Job 16:7 That is, destroyed most of my family.
- Job 16:8 In token of sorrow and grief.
- Job 16:9 That is, God by his wrath: and in this diversity of words and high style, he expresseth how grievous the hand of God was upon him.
- Job 16:10 That is, hath handled me most contemptuously: for so smiting on the cheek signified, 1 Kings 22:24; Mark 14:65.
- Job 16:11 They have led me whither they would.
- Job 16:13 His manifold afflictions.
- Job 16:13 I am wounded to the heart.
- Job 16:15 Meaning, his glory was brought low.
- Job 16:17 Signifying, that he is not able to comprehend the cause of this his grievous punishment.
- Job 16:17 That is, unfeigned, and without hypocrisy.
- Job 16:18 Let my sin be known if I be such a sinner as mine adversaries accuse me, and let me find no favor.
- Job 16:19 Though man condemn me, yet God is witness of my cause.
- Job 16:20 Use painted words instead of true consolation.
- Job 16:21 Thus by his great torments he is carried away, and breaketh out into passions, and speaketh unadvisedly, as though God should entreat man more gently, seeing he hath but a short time here to live.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
