Job 16

Job Defends Himself

1-5 If You Were in My Shoes Then Job defended himself:
"I've had all I can take of your talk. What a bunch of miserable comforters! Is there no end to your windbag speeches? What's your problem that you go on and on like this? If you were in my shoes, I could talk just like you. I could put together a terrific harangue and really let you have it. But I'd never do that. I'd console and comfort, make things better, not worse!
6-14 "When I speak up, I feel no better; if I say nothing, that doesn't help either. I feel worn down. God, you have wasted me totally—me and my family! You've shriveled me like a dried prune, showing the world that you're against me. My gaunt face stares back at me from the mirror, a mute witness to your treatment of me. Your anger tears at me, your teeth rip me to shreds, your eyes burn holes in me—God, my enemy! People take one look at me and gasp. Contemptuous, they slap me around and gang up against me. And God just stands there and lets them do it, lets wicked people do what they want with me. I was contentedly minding my business when God beat me up. He grabbed me by the neck and threw me around. He set me up as his target, then rounded up archers to shoot at me. Merciless, they shot me full of arrows; bitter bile poured from my gut to the ground. He burst in on me, onslaught after onslaught, charging me like a mad bull.
15-17 "I sewed myself a shroud and wore it like a shirt; I lay facedown in the dirt. Now my face is blotched red from weeping; look at the dark shadows under my eyes, Even though I've never hurt a soul and my prayers are sincere!

The One Who Represents Mortals Before God

18-22 "O Earth, don't cover up the wrong done to me! Don't muffle my cry! There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name— My Champion, my Friend, while I'm weeping my eyes out before God. I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor.
"Only a few years are left before I set out on the road of no return."

Job 16

1 Then Job answered and said,

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

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

4 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.

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

6 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.

8 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.

9 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.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.

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

12 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.

13 His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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