| Chapter 16 |
1 |
Then Job answered, and said: --
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2 |
I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters. --
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3 |
Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak? --
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4 |
I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul. --
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5 |
I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you. --
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6 |
I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you. --
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7 |
But what shall I do? If I speak, my pain will not rest: and if I hold my peace, it will not depart from me. --
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8 |
But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing. --
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9 |
My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me. --
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10 |
He hath gathered together his fury against me, and threatening me he hath gnashed with his teeth upon me: my enemy hath beheld me with terrible eyes. --
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11 |
They have opened their mouths upon me, and reproaching me they have struck me on the cheek, they are filled with my pains. --
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12 |
God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked. --
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13 |
I that was formerly so wealthy, am all on a sudden broken to pieces: he hath taken me by my neck, he hath broken me, and hath set me up to be his mark. --
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14 |
He hath compassed me round about with his lances, he hath wounded my loins, he hath not spared, and hath poured out my bowels on the earth. --
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15 |
He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant. --
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16 |
I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes. --
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17 |
My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim. --
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18 |
These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God. --
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19 |
O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee. --
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20 |
For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high. --
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21 |
My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God. --
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22 |
And O that a man might so be judged with God, as the son of man is judged with his companion! --
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23 |
For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which l shall not return. --
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