Job 16

Job calls his friends miserable comforters and describes God as his adversary who has torn him apart and set him up as a target. Yet in the midst of his agony, Job declares that his witness is in heaven and his record is on high.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Then Job answered and said,	Then Job answered and said:
2	I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.	"I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.
3	Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?	Shall vain words have an end? Or what emboldens you that you answer?
4	I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.	I also could speak as you do; if your soul were in my soul's place, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you.
5	But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.	But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief.
6	Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?	Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; and though I forbear, what am I eased?
7	But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.	But now he has made me weary; you have made desolate all my company.
8	And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.	And you have filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me; and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.
9	He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.	He tears me in his wrath, who hates me; he gnashes on me with his teeth; my enemy sharpens his eyes on me.
10	They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.	They have gaped on me with their mouth; they have struck me on the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.
11	God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.	God has delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
12	I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.	I was at ease, but he has broken me apart; he has also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
13	His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.	His archers compass me round about; he cleaves my reins apart, and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
14	He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.	He breaks me with breach on breach; he runs on me like a giant.
15	I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.	I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
16	My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;	My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death,
17	Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.	not for any injustice in my hands; also my prayer is pure.
18	O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.	O earth, do not cover my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19	Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.	Also now, see, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20	My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.	My friends scorn me; but my eye pours out tears to God.
21	O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!	O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbour!
22	When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.	When a few years are come, then I shall go the way from where I shall not return.