Job 16 · Clearspring

Job Decries His Comforters

¹Then Job answered,+ ²“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!+ ³Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?+ ⁴I 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,+ ⁵but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.+ ⁶“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?+ ⁷But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company.+ ⁸You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.+ ⁹He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.+ ¹⁰They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.+ ¹¹God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.+ ¹²I 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.+ ¹³His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground.+ ¹⁴He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant.+ ¹⁵I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.+ ¹⁶My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids.+ ¹⁷Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.+ ¹⁸“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.+ ¹⁹Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.+ ²⁰My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,+ ²¹that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!+ ²²For when a few years have come, I shall go the way of no return.+

Job Decries His Comforters

Study Job 16