Job 16 (King James Version)

1 Then Job answered and said , 2 I have heard many such things: miserable^a comforters are ye all. 3 Shall vain^b 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.^c 20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye^d 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^e years are come , then I shall go the way whence I shall not return .