Job 16:14-22

14 Me quebrantó de quebranto sobre quebranto; corrió contra mí como un gigante

15 Yo cosí cilicio sobre mi piel, y cargué mi cabeza de polvo

16 Mi rostro está enlodado con lloro, y mis párpados entenebrecidos

17 a pesar de no haber injusticia en mis manos, y de haber sido limpia mi oración

18 ¡Oh tierra! No cubras mi sangre, y no haya lugar donde se esconda mi clamor

19 Por cierto aun ahora en los cielos está mi testigo, y mi testimonio en las alturas

20 Mis disputadores son mis amigos; mas a Dios destilarán mis ojos

21 ¡Deseo que pudiera disputar el hombre con Dios, como puede con su prójimo

22 Mas los años contados vendrán, y yo andaré el camino por donde no volveré

Job 16:14-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 16

This chapter and the following contain Job's reply to the preceding discourse of Eliphaz, in which he complains of the conversation of his friends, as unprofitable, uncomfortable, vain, empty, and without any foundation, Job 16:1-3; and intimates that were they in his case and circumstances, tie should behave in another manner towards them, not mock at them, but comfort them, Job 16:4,5; though such was his unhappy case, that, whether he spoke or was silent, it was much the same; there was no alloy to his grief, Job 16:6; wherefore he turns himself to God, and speaks to him, and of what he had done to him, both to his family, and to himself; which things, as they proved the reality of his afflictions, were used by his friends as witnesses against him, Job 16:7,8; and then enters upon a detail of his troubles, both at the hands of God and man, in order to move the divine compassion, and the pity of his friends, Job 16:9-14; which occasioned him great sorrow and distress, Job 16:15,16; yet asserts his own innocence, and appeals to God for the truth of it, Job 16:17-19; and applies to him, and wishes his cause was pleaded with him, Job 16:20,21; and concludes with the sense he had of the shortness of his life, Job 16:22; which sentiment is enlarged upon in the following chapter.