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The Book of Job

Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic

- Kapitel 16 -

Job reproaches his merciless friends

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Then Job answered, and said:
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I have often heard such things as these: you are all troublesome comforters.
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Shall windy words have no end? or is it any trouble to thee to speak?
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I also could speak like you: and would God your soul were for my soul.
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I would comfort you also with words, and would wag my head over you.
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I would strengthen you with my mouth, and would move my lips, as sparing you.
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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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But now my sorrow hath oppressed me, and all my limbs are brought to nothing.
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My wrinkles bear witness against me, and a false speaker riseth up against my face, contradicting me.
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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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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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God hath shut me up with the unjust man, and hath delivered me into the hands of the wicked.
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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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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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He hath torn me with wound upon wound, he hath rushed in upon me like a giant.
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I have sowed sackcloth upon my skin, and have covered my flesh with ashes.
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My face is swollen with weeping, and my eyelids are dim.
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These things have I suffered without the iniquity of my hand, when I offered pure prayers to God.
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O earth, cover not thou my blood, neither let my cry find a hiding place in thee.
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For behold my witness is in heaven, and he that knoweth my conscience is on high.
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My friends are full of words: my eye poureth out tears to God.
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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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For behold short years pass away and I am walking in a path by which I shall not return.

Job reproaches his merciless friends

1
Then Job answered,
2
I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters!
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Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
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I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you,
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but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you.
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“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased?
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But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate.
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You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face.
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He has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me.
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They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me.
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God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
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I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target.
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His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my bile on the ground.
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He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs at me like a giant.
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I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust.
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My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids,
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although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
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“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
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Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
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My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God,
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that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor!
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For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.