Job 16:6

6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.

Job 16:6 in Other Translations

KJV
6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?
ESV
6 "If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
NLT
6 Instead, I suffer if I defend myself, and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.
MSG
6 "When I speak up, I feel no better; if I say nothing, that doesn't help either.
CSB
6 Even if I speak, my suffering is not relieved, and if I hold back, what have I lost?

Job 16:6 Meaning and Commentary

Job 16:6

Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged
Though he spoke to God in prayer, and entreated for some abatement of his sorrows, he got no relief; and though he spoke to himself in soliloquies, his sorrow was not repressed nor lessened; he could not administer comfort to himself in the present case, though he might to others in like circumstances, if his own were changed;

and [though] I forbear
speaking, hold my peace, and say nothing,

what am I eased?
or "what goes from me" F20? not anything of my trouble or grief; sometimes a man speaking of his troubles to his friends gives vent to his grief, and he is somewhat eased; and on the other hand being silent about it, he forgets it, and it goes off; but in neither of those ways could Job be released: or it may be his sense is, that when he spake of his affliction, and attempted to vindicate his character, he was represented as an impatient and passionate man, if not as blasphemous, so that his grief was rather increased than assuaged; and if he was silent, that was interpreted a consciousness of his guilt; so that, let him take what course he would, it was much the same, he could get no ease nor comfort.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 (Klxy ynm hm) "quid a me abit", Junius & Tremellius, Schultens.

Job 16:6 In-Context

4 I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.
5 But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6 “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.
7 Surely, God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household.
8 You have shriveled me up—and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Job 6:3; S Job 7:21
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