Job Answers: Y’all Are No Comforters

Job 16

Then Job answered,

“I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters! Will vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? I also could speak as y’all do. If y’all’s soul were in my soul’s place, I could join words together against y’all, and shake my head at y’all, but I would strengthen y’all with my mouth. The solace of my lips would bring relief.

 

“Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I refrain, what am I eased? But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made all my company desolate. You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face. Hɪꜱ anger has torn me and persecuted me. Hᴇ has gnashed on me with ʜɪꜱ teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me. They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me. God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, and ʜᴇ broke me apart. Yes, ʜᴇ has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. Hᴇ has also set me up for ʜɪꜱ target. Hɪꜱ archers surround me. Hᴇ splits my kidneys apart without mercy. Hᴇ pours out my bile on the ground. Hᴇ breaks me with breach on breach. Hᴇ runs at me like a giant. I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust. My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids, although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.

 

“Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest. Even now, my witness is in heaven. My advocate is on high. My friends scoff at me, as my eyes pour out tears to God. Oh that he would plead with God for a man, as a son of man with his neighbor! For when a few years have come, I will go the way of no return.