Job 16 — FBV
16Verse 1Job replied,Verse 2“I've heard all this before. You are comforters who just cause trouble!+Verse 3Will your windy speeches never cease?+What's bothering you that you have to answer me?Verse 4I could talk like you do if you were in my place, stringing words together to criticize you, ridiculing you with a toss of my head.Verse 5I could build you up by my mouth speaking words; the movement of my lips would ease your pain.+Verse 6For me, if I speak it doesn't ease my pain, and if I don't speak the pain is still there.Verse 7God,+you have worn me out. You have destroyed my whole family.Verse 8You have made me shrivel up, which is a witness against me; my thin body testifies against me.+Verse 9He has torn me apart in his anger; in his hostility he has gnashed his teeth at me; my enemy pierces me with his fierce look.Verse 10People stare at me with their mouths wide open, they slap me on my cheeks to mock me, they crowd around me to attack me.Verse 11God has handed me over to evil people; he has thrown me into their hands.Verse 12I was living in peace and he smashed me to pieces. He grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target.Verse 13His archers surround me. His arrows pierce my kidneys without mercy. He pours out my gall on the ground.Verse 14Like a wall he breaks me down, breach upon breach, rushing at me like a warrior.Verse 15I have sown sackcloth+to cover my skin; my strength lies broken in the dust.+Verse 16My face is red from crying and dark shadows surround my eyes,Verse 17although I have done nothing wrong+and my prayer is pure.Verse 18Earth, do not cover up my blood. May my cry find no place to hide.Verse 19Look, right now my witness is in heaven; the one who speaks for me is on high.Verse 20My friends scorn me, but my eyes pour out tears to God.Verse 21I want my witness to speak for me with God as someone does for their friend.Verse 22For in a few short years I shall go down that road from which I shall not return.”