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 16,5 Hiob 16,5
Behold, thou hast instructed many,And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Thy words have upholden him that was falling,And thou hast made firm the {Hebrew: bowing.}feeble knees.
To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; {Or, Else might he forsake Or, But he forsaketh}Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
I chose out their way, and sat as chief,And dwelt as a king in the army,As one that comforteth the mourners.
Wait for Jehovah:Be strong, and let thy heart take courage;Yea, wait thou for Jehovah.
Oil and perfume rejoice the heart;So doth the sweetness of a man's friend that cometh of hearty counsel.
Iron sharpeneth iron;So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the {Or, tottering}feeble knees.
Say to them that are of a {Hebrew: hasty.}fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: {Or, behold, your God! vengeance will come, even the recompense of God}behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; he will come and save you.
Brethren, even if a man be overtaken {Or, by}in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.