Job 16

Job Calls Out His Friends

1 Then Job spoke up.

2 “I have heard all this before, you all sound like miserable comforters.

3 Are you not tired of spitting empty words, When are you going to stop running your mouth,

4 If roles were switched, I could talk just like you all. I could throw words at you and shake my head at you.

5 But I would try to give you strength with my words and bring relief, not tear you down.”

Job Feels God’s Hand Against Him

6 “If I speak, my pain is not relieved. If I stay quiet, it does not leave either.

7 God, You wore me out, You destroyed my whole crew.

8 You shriveled me up, it is my witness against me. My skinny frame rises up and testifies to my face.

9 God’s anger tears me apart. He hunts me down. He grinds His teeth at me, my enemy glares sharp at me.

10 People open their mouths wide at me. They slap me in the face and gang up on me.

11 God handed me over to evil people, tossed me into the hands of the wicked.

12 I was at peace, but He crushed me. He grabbed me by the neck, broke me down, and set me up as His target.

13 His archers surround me. He pierces my kidneys without pity, pours out my insides on the ground.

14 He breaks me blow after blow, rushing at me like a warrior.

15 I have sewn sackcloth on my skin, pressed my pride in the dirt.

16 My face is red with crying, dark shadows cover my eyelids,

17 Even though my hands are clean and my prayer is pure.”

Job Pleads for a Witness in Heaven

18 “Earth, do not cover my blood, do not let my cry for justice get silenced.

19 Even now my witness is in heaven; the One who stands for me is on high.

20 My friends mock me, but I pour out tears to God.

21 I wish someone would argue my case with God the way one pleads for his friend.

22 For when a few years are past, I will take that walk where I will not come back.”