Chapter 16

  Then Job answered and said,  

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  I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.  

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  Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?  

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  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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  [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].  

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  Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?  

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  But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.  

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  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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  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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  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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  God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.  

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  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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  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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  He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.  

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  I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.  

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  My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;  

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  Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.  

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  O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting] -place.  

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  Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.  

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  My friends scoff at me: [But] mine eye poureth out tears unto God,  

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  That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!  

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  For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.  

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