Jó 16

¹ Bvt Iob answered, and said,

² I haue oft times heard such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

³ ShallWhich serve for vain ostentation and for no true comfort.vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

⁴ I also could speak as ye [do]: if yourI would that you felt what I do.soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, andThat is, mock at your misery, as you do at mine.shake mine head at you.

⁵ [But] I would strengthen youIf this were in my power, yet I would comfort you and not do as you do to me.with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage [your grief].

⁶ Though I speak, my grief isIf you would say, «Why do you not then comfort yourself?» he answers that the judgments of God are more heavy than he is able to assuage either by words or silence.not asswaged: and [though] I forbear, what am I eased?

⁷ But nowMeaning, God.he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all myThat is, destroyed most of my family.company.

⁸ And thou hast filled me withIn token of sorrow and grief.wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.

⁹ That is, God by his wrath: and in this diversity of words and high style, he expresses how grievous the hand of God was on him.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 theThat is, has handled me contemptuously: for so slapping the cheek signified, (1Ki_22:24; Mar_14:65)cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

¹¹ God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into theThey have led me where they would.hands of the wicked.

¹² I was in welth, but he hath brought me to nought: he hath taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set me as a marke for himselfe.

¹³ HisHis manifold afflictions.archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gallI am wounded to the heart.upon the ground.

¹⁴ He hath broken me with one breaking vpon another, and runneth vpon me like a gyant.

¹⁵ I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled myMeaning, his glory was brought low.horn in the dust.

¹⁶ My face is withered with weeping, and the shadow of death is vpon mine eyes,

¹⁷ Not for [any] injustice inSignifying that he is not able to understand the cause of this his grievous punishment.mine hands: also my prayerThat is, unfeigned and without hypocrisy.[is] pure.

¹⁸ O earth, cover not thou myLet my sin be known if I am such a sinner as my adversaries accuse me, and let me find no favour.blood, and let my cry have no place.

¹⁹ Also now, behold, myThough man condemn me, yet God is witness of my cause.witness [is] in heaven, and my record [is] on high.

²⁰ My friendsUse painted words instead of true consolation.scorn me: [but] mine eye poureth out [tears] unto God.

²¹ O that one might plead for a man with God, as a manThus by his great torments he is carried away, and breaks out into passions, and speaks unadvisedly, as though God would intreat man more gently, seeing he has only a short time here to live.[pleadeth] for his neighbour!

²² For the yeeres accounted come, and I shal go the way, whence I shall not returne.