Job 16

1 Then Job answered and said,2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.s3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?s4 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.5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?s7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast 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.9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon 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.11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.s12 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.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 defiled my horn in the dust.16 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.18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.s20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.s21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!s22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.s

Job 17

1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.s2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?s3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.s7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.s8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.s

10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.s12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.s13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.s15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

Job 18

1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.3 Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?4 He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?s

5 Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.6 The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.s7 The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.9 The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.s

11 Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.s12 His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.13 It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.s14 His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.15 It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.16 His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.17 His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.18 He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.s19 He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.20 They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.ss21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.