Jó 16
Så tog Job til Orde og svarede:
Får Mundsvejret aldrig Ende? Hvad ægged dig dog til at svare?
Også jeg kunde tale som I, hvis I kun var i mit Sted, føje mine Ord imod jer og ryste på Hovedet ad jer,
styrke jer med min Mund, ej spare på ynksomme Ord!
Taler jeg, mildnes min Smerte ikke og om jeg tier, hvad Lindring får jeg?
Dog nu har han udtømt min Kraft, du bar ødelagt hele min Kreds;
at du greb mig, gælder som Vidnesbyrd mod mig, min Magerhed vidner imod mig.
Hans Vrede river og slider i mig, han skærer Tænder imod mig. Fjenderne hvæsser Blikket imod mig,
de opspiler Gabet imod mig, slår mig med Hån på Kind og flokkes til Hobe omkring mig;
Gud gav mig hen i Niddingers Vold, i gudløses Hænder kasted han mig.
Jeg leved i Fred, så knuste han mig, han greb mig i Nakken og sønderslog mig; han stilled mig op som Skive,
hans Pile flyver omkring mig, han borer i Nyrerne uden Skånsel, udgyder min Galde på Jorden;
Revne på Revne slår han mig, stormer som Kriger imod mig.
Over min Hud har jeg syet Sæk og boret mit Horn i Støvel;
mit Ansigt er rødt af Gråd, mine Øjenlåg hyllet i Mørke,
skønt der ikke er Vold i min Hånd, og skønt min Bøn er ren!
Dølg ikke, Jord, mit Blod, mit Skrig komme ikke til Hvile!
Alt nu er mit Vidne i Himlen, min Talsmand er i det høje;
gid min Ven lod sig finde! Mit Øje vender sig med Tårer til Gud,
at han skifter Ret mellem Manden og Gud, mellem Mennesket og hans Ven!
Thi talte er de kommende År, jeg skal ud på en Færd, jeg ej vender hjem fra.
Then Job answered and said,
I have heard many such things: miserable comforters {are} ye all. {miserable: or, troublesome}
Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? {vain...: Heb. words of wind}
I also could speak as ye {do}: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
{But} I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage {your grief}.
Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and {though} I forbear, what am I eased? {what...: Heb. what goeth from me?}
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. {hath...: Heb. hath shut me up}
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 on my eyelids {is} 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. {on high: Heb. in the high places}
My friends scorn me: {but} mine eye poureth out {tears} unto God. {scorn me: Heb. are my scorners}
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man {pleadeth} for his neighbour! {neighbour: or, friend}
When a few years are come, then I shall go the way {whence} I shall not return. {a few...: Heb. years of number}