Chapter 16.
Ben-Job answered and said,
What am I eased?
But now he hath made me weary.
Thou hast made desolate all my company, 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.
He teareth me in his wrath who hateth me.
He gnasheth upon me with his teeth.
Mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth.
They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully.
They have gathered themselves together against me.
God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the
wicked.
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.
His archers compass me round about.
He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare.
He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
He breaketh me with breach upon breach.
He runneth upon me like a giant.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
My face is foul with weeping, and my eyelids as the shadow of death,
not for any injustice in mine hands.
Also my prayer is pure.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
Also now behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
My friends scorn me, but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
O, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour.
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way, whence I shall not return.