Job 16:1-22 - Job's Fifth Speech

¹ In response, Job said: ² "I've heard many things like this. What miserable comforters you all are! ³ Will windy words like yours never end? What is upsetting you that you keep on arguing? ⁴ "I could also talk like you if only you were in my place! Then I would put together an argument against you. I would shake my head at you ⁵ and encourage you with what I have to say; my words of comfort would lessen your pain.

⁶ "But if I speak, my pain isn't assuaged; if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?" ⁷ "God has certainly worn me out; you devastated my entire world. ⁸ You've arrested me, making me testify against myself! My leanness rises up to attack me, accusing me to my face. ⁹ His anger tears me in his persistent resentment against me; he gnashes his teeth at me. My adversary glares at me. ¹⁰ People gaped at me with mouths wide open; they slap me in their scorn and gather together against me. ¹¹ God has delivered me over to the ungodly, throwing me into the control of the wicked. ¹² "He tore me apart when I was at ease; grabbing me by my neck, he shook me to pieces then he really made me his target. ¹³ His archers surround me, slashing open my kidneys without pity; he pours out my gall on the ground. ¹⁴ Attack follows attack as he breaks through my defenses! He runs over me like a mighty warrior.

¹⁵ "I've even sewn sackcloth directly to my skin; I've buried my strength in the dust. ¹⁶ My face is red from my tears, and dark shadows encircle my eyelids, ¹⁷ even though violence is not my intention, and my prayer is pure."

¹⁸ "Listen, earth! Don't cover my blood, for my outcry has no place to rest. ¹⁹ Even now, behold! I have a witness in heaven, my Advocate is on high. ²⁰ My friends mock me, while my eyes overflow with tears to God, ²¹ crying for him to arbitrate between this man and God; as a human being does with his fellow neighbor. ²² For when only a few years have elapsed, I'll start down a path from which I'll never return."