Job 16

1 Then Job [a patriarch famous for his patience] answered [replied, made a response, and said] [to Eliphaz and the others]: word study 2 “I have heard [frequently, many times] many things like these [such things, things like that]; miserable [troublesome, causing pain] comforters [who only give trouble, bringing sorrow] are you all [every one of you, all of you together]. word study 3 Is there no [end to empty talk, conclusion] end to your long-winded [vain, windy] speeches? What [troubles] provokes you to continue [answering, responding] testifying? word study 4 I could also [even, too] speak like you [in the same manner, with similar words] if you were in my place [position, circumstance]; I could heap up [join together, accumulate] words against you [to criticize, condemn] and shake [move back and forth, tremble] my head [as a sign of disdain, ridicule] at you. word study 5 But I would [strengthen, give courage to] encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation [solace, comfort] of my lips [words, language] would bring [relieve, assuage] relief [ease your grief, comfort]. word study 6 Even if I speak [to express my thoughts, to communicate], my pain [sorrow, grief, or suffering] is not relieved [assuaged, eased], and if I hold back [cease, refrain from speaking], how will it [my pain, my grief] go away [be removed, depart from me]? word study 7 Surely [certainly, without a doubt] He has now [at this time, in this moment] exhausted [made weary, worn out] me; You have devastated [made desolate, left empty] all [everything, the entirety of] my family [congregation, loved ones]. word study 8 You have bound [seized, filled with wrinkles] me, and it has become a witness [testimony, evidence]; my frailty [leanness, physical weakness] rises up and testifies [bears witness, gives answer] against me [to my face, in my presence]. word study 9 His anger [wrath, intense displeasure] has torn [ripped apart, provided no comfort] me and opposed [hated, been hostile towards] me; He gnashes [grinds, rubs] His teeth [sharp edges] at me [upon me, against me]. My adversary [enemy, narrow troubler] pierces [sharpens, gazes intensely] me with His eyes [the source of His gaze, fierce look]. word study 10 They open [gape upon, with their mouths wide open] their mouths against me and strike [smite, hit] my cheeks [jaw, face] with contempt [reproach, scorn]; they join [gather, come together in unity] together [as one, in agreement] against me. word study 11 God [the supreme ruler, Elohim] has delivered me to [handed me over to, shut me up unto] unjust men [the ungodly, morally wrong individuals]; He has thrown [cast, turned me over] me to the clutches [into the hands] of the wicked [those who are guilty of sin, perverse]. word study 12 I was at ease [in comfort, prosperous, and secure], but He shattered [broke asunder, smashed to pieces] me; He seized [grasped, taken hold of] me by the neck [the back of the neck, a point of vulnerability] and crushed [dashed to pieces, shattered] me. He has set me up as His target [a mark for His arrows, a focal point]; word study 13 His archers [skilled bowmen, surrounding me on all sides] surround me. He pierces [splits, cuts through] my kidneys [innermost being, seat of emotions] without mercy [pity, compassion] and spills [pours out, sheds] my gall [bitter fluid] on the ground [earth, land]. word study 14 He breaks [shatters, bursts through] me with wound [breach, break] upon wound; He rushes [runs, charges] me like a mighty [powerful, strong] warrior [giant, champion]. word study 15 I have sewn [torn and mended] sackcloth [coarse cloth] over my skin [human flesh, outer self]; I have buried [thrust, laid low] my horn [a horn; a hill or peak] in the dust [dry earth, humble state]. word study 16 My face [is foul with, withered from] is red with weeping, and deep shadows [shades of death, death-shade] ring my eyes [eyelids, becoming dark]; word study 17 yet my hands [free from injustice, unsoiled by violence] are free of [unjust, cruel] violence [oppression] and my prayer [supplication, heartfelt request] is [completely, utterly] pure [clean and untainted]. word study 18 O earth [land, ground, territory], do not [let not, never] cover my blood [the liquid that flows through the body]; may my cry [outcry, shriek, lament] for help [rescue, salvation] never be laid [have no place, find no rest] to rest [in silence, without response]. word study 19 Even now [at this very moment, currently] my witness [testifier, one who gives evidence] is in heaven [the visible universe, the abode of God], and my advocate [supporter of my cause, one who vouches for me] is on high [in a lofty, elevated place, the heights]. word study 20 My friends [neighbors, companions] are my scoffers [those who mock, scorn me] as my eyes [the source of my tears, the window to my soul] pour out tears [weep, drip with sorrow] to God [Eloah, the one true deity]. word study 21 Oh, that a man [a great man] might plead [reason, argue, or rebuke] with God [Eloah, the one true God] as he pleads [reasons, argues, or rebukes] with his neighbor [friend, companion, or fellow man]! word study 22 For [because of this reason] when only a few [short, limited] years [periods of time, seasons] are past [come to an end, have passed away] I will go [walk, journey] the way [path, road] of no return [from which I shall not come back, without turning back]. word study