Job 16:1-9

1 Entonces respondió Job, y dijo:

2 He oído muchas cosas como éstas; consoladores gravosos sois todos vosotros.

3 ¿No hay fin a las palabras vacías? ¿O qué te provoca para que así respondas?

4 Yo también hablaría como vosotros, si vuestra alma estuviera en lugar de mi alma. Podría hilvanar palabras contra vosotros, y menear ante vosotros la cabeza.

5 Os podría alentar con mi boca, y el consuelo de mis labios podría aliviar vuestro dolor.

6 Si hablo, mi dolor no disminuye, y si callo, no se aparta de mí.

7 Pero ahora El me ha agobiado; tú has asolado toda mi compañía,

8 y me has llenado de arrugas que en testigo se han convertido; mi flacura se levanta contra mí, testifica en mi cara.

9 Su ira me ha despedazado y me ha perseguido, contra mí El ha rechinado los dientes; mi adversario aguza los ojos contra mí.

Job 16:1-9 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.