Job 16-17

Common English Bible

² I’ve heard many things like these.
    All of you are sorry comforters.
³ Will windy talk ever cease;
    what bothers you that you must argue?
⁴ In your situation I could speak like you;
    I could put words together to oppose you,
    shake my head over you.
⁵ I could heap up words, strengthen you with my speech;
    my trembling lips would be held in check.
⁶ If I speak, my pain is not eased;
    if I hold back, what have I lost?

⁷ Now God has surely worn me out.
    You have destroyed my entire group,
⁸     seized me, which became grounds for an accusation.^[a]
My leanness rises to bear witness against me.
⁹ His anger tears me and afflicts me;
    he slashes at me with his teeth.
    My enemy pierces me with his eyes.
¹⁰ They open their mouths at me
    and strike my cheek in a taunt;
        they gang up on me.
¹¹ God delivers me to a criminal
    and forces me into the hands of the wicked.
¹² I was at rest, but he shattered me,
    seized me by the back of my neck,
    dashed me into pieces;
        he raised me up for his target.
¹³ His archers surround me;
    he cuts my kidneys open without pity and doesn’t care,
        pours my gall on the ground,
¹⁴     bursts me open over and over,
        runs against me like a strong man.
¹⁵ I’ve sewed rough cloth over my skin
    and buried my dignity in the dust.
¹⁶ My face is red from crying,
    and dark gloom hangs on my eyelids.
¹⁷ But there is no violence in my hands,
    and my prayer is pure.

¹⁸ Earth, don’t cover my blood;
    let my outcry never cease.
¹⁹ Surely now my witness stands in heaven;
    my advocate is on high;
²⁰     my go-between, my friend.^[b]
While my eyes drip tears to God,
²¹     let him plead with God for a human being,
    like a person pleads for a friend.
²² A number of years will surely pass,
    and then I’ll walk a path that I won’t return.

17 My spirit is broken,
    my days extinguished,
    the grave,^[c] mine.
² Surely mockers are with me,
    and my eye looks on their rebellion.
³ Take my guarantee.
    Who else is willing to make an agreement?
⁴ You’ve closed their mind to insight;
    therefore, you won’t be exalted.
⁵ He denounces his friends for gain,
    and his children’s eyes fail.
⁶ He makes me a popular proverb;
    I’m like spit in people’s faces.
⁷ My eye is weak from grief;
    my limbs like a shadow—all of them.
⁸ Those who do the right thing are amazed at this;
    the guiltless become troubled about the godless.
⁹ The innocent clings to his way;
    the one whose hands are clean grows stronger.
¹⁰ But you can bring all of them again,
    and I won’t find a wise one among you.
¹¹ My days have passed;
    my goals are destroyed, my heart’s desires.
¹² They turn night into day;
    light is near because of the darkness.
¹³ If I hope for the underworld^[d] as my dwelling,
    lay out my bed in darkness,
¹⁴     I’ve called corruption “my father,”
    the worm, “my mother and sister.”
¹⁵     Where then is my hope?
        My hope—who can see it?
¹⁶ Will they go down with me to the underworld;^[e]
    will we descend together to the dust?