| Chapter 16 |
1 | Then Job answered and said,
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2 | I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.
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3 | Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
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4 | I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.
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5 | [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].
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6 | Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?
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7 | But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.
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8 | And thou hast laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.
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9 | He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
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10 | They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.
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11 | God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
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12 | I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.
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13 | His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
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14 | He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.
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15 | I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.
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16 | My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
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17 | Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
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18 | O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting] -place.
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19 | Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.
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20 | My friends scoff at me: [But] mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
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21 | That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!
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22 | For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
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