| Chapter 16 |
1 |
And Job answered and said,
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2 |
I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all.
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3 |
Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
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4 |
I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you;
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5 |
[But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
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6 |
If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?
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7 |
But now he hath made me weary; ... thou hast made desolate all my family;
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8 |
Thou hast shrivelled me up! it is become a witness; and my leanness riseth up against me, it beareth witness to my face.
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9 |
His anger teareth and pursueth me; he gnasheth with his teeth against me; [as] mine adversary he sharpeneth his eyes at me.
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10 |
They gape upon me with their mouth; they smite my cheeks reproachfully; they range themselves together against me.
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11 |
łGod hath delivered me over to the iniquitous man, and hurled me into the hands of the wicked.
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12 |
I was at rest, but he hath shattered me; he hath taken me by the neck and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.
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13 |
His arrows encompass 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 mighty man.
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15 |
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and rolled 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 my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!
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19 |
Even now, behold, my Witness is in the heavens, and he that voucheth for me is in the heights.
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20 |
My friends are my mockers; mine eye poureth out tears unto +God.
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21 |
Oh that there were arbitration for a man with +God, as a son of man for his friend!
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22 |
For years [few] in number shall pass, -- and I shall go the way [whence] I shall not return.
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