Then Job answered and said,
I have heard many such things:
{Or, Wearisome}Miserable comforters are ye all.
Shall {Hebrew: words of wind.}vain words have an end?
Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
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.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth,
And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.
Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged;
And though I forbear, {Hebrew: what departeth from me?}what am I eased?
But now he hath made me weary:
Thou hast made desolate all my company.
And thou hast {Or, shrivelled me up}laid fast hold on me, which is a witness against me:
And my leanness riseth up against me,
It testifieth to my face.
He hath torn me in his wrath, and {Or, hated}persecuted me;
He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth:
Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.
They have gaped upon me with their mouth;
They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully:
They gather themselves together against me.
God delivereth me to the ungodly,
And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
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.
His {Or, arrows Or, mighty ones}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 {Or, mighty man}giant.
I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin,
And have {Or, defiled}laid my horn in the dust.
My face is red with weeping,
And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
Although there is no violence in my hands,
And my prayer is pure.
O earth, cover not thou my blood,
And let my cry {Or, have no more place}have no resting-place.
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,
And he that voucheth for me is on high.
My friends scoff at me:
But mine eye poureth out tears unto God,
{Or, That one might plead for a man with God. As a son of man pleadeth for his neighbor}That he would maintain the right of a man with God,
And of a son of man with his neighbor!
For when a few years are come,
I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
Querverweise zu Hiob 16,2 Hiob 16,2
Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt?Or is there any taste in {Or, the juice of purslain}the white of an egg?
But ye are forgers of lies;Ye are all physicians of no value.
How forcible are words of uprightness!But your reproof, what doth it reprove?
For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten;And they tell of the {Or, pain}sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded.
Should not the multitude of words be answered?And should a man full of talk be justified?
{Or, they that are moved by love do it, knowing &c.}the one do it of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the {Greek: good tidings: and so elsewhere; see marginal note on Matthew 4:23.}gospel;
Should thy boastings make men hold their peace?And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace!And it would be your wisdom.
How long will ye vex my soul,And break me in pieces with words?
These ten times have ye reproached me:Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.
How hast thou helped him that is without power!How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!
How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom,And plentifully declared sound knowledge!
{Or, Know ye}Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: