(KJV) Job 16¹

⥃Job Decries His Comforters

[1] Then Job answered and said, [2] I have heard² many such things: miserable³ comforters [are] ye all. [3] Shall vain words⁴ have an end? or what emboldeneth⁵ thee that thou answerest? [4] I also could speak as ye [do]: if your soul⁶ were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words⁷ against you, and shake mine⁸ head at you. [5] [But] I would⁹ strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage [your grief]. [6] Though I speak, my grief¹⁰ is not asswaged: and [though] I forbear, what am I eased¹¹? [7] But now he hath¹² made me weary: thou hast made¹³ desolate all my company. [8] And thou hast¹⁴ filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness¹⁵ [against me]: and my leanness¹⁶ rising up in me beareth witness to my face. [9] He teareth [me¹⁷] in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth¹⁸ upon me with his teeth; mine¹⁹ enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me. [10] They have gaped²⁰ upon me with their mouth; they have smitten²¹ me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered²² themselves together against me. [11] God hath delivered me²³ to the ungodly²⁴, and turned²⁵ me over into the hands of the wicked. [12] I was at ease²⁶, but he hath broken me²⁷ asunder: he hath also taken [me] by my neck²⁸, and shaken²⁹ me to pieces, and set me up³⁰ for his mark. [13] His archers³¹ compass me round about, he cleaveth³² my reins asunder, and doth³³ not spare; he poureth³⁴ out my gall upon the ground. [14] He breaketh³⁵ me with breach upon breach, he runneth³⁶ upon me like a giant. [15] I have sewed³⁷ sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn³⁸ in the dust. [16] My face³⁹ is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids⁴⁰ [is] the shadow of death; [17] Not for⁴¹ [any] injustice in mine hands: also my prayer⁴² [is] pure. [18] O earth⁴³, cover not⁴⁴ thou my blood, and let my cry⁴⁵ have no place. [19] Also now, behold, my witness⁴⁶ [is] in heaven, and my record [is] on high⁴⁷. [20] My friends scorn me⁴⁸: [but] mine eye poureth⁴⁹ out [tears] unto God. [21] O that one might plead⁵⁰ for a man with God, as a man [pleadeth] for his neighbour⁵¹! [22] When a few years⁵² are come, then I shall go the way [whence⁵³] I shall not return.