rd

Job 16

1 Job moved by the importunacie of his friends, 7 Counteth in what extremitie he is, 19 And taketh God witness of his innocencie.
1.But Job answered, & said,
2.I have oft times heard suche things: miserable comforters are ye all.
3.Shall there be none end of words of winde? or what maketh thee bolde so to answer?
4.I colde also speake as ye do: (but wolde God your soule were in my soule’s stead) I colde kepe you companie in speaking, and could shake mine head at you,
5.But I wolde strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips shulde aswage your sorowe.
6.Thogh I speake, my sorowe can not be aswaged: thogh I cease, what release have I?
7.But now he maketh me weary: o God, thou hast make all my congregacion desolate,
8.And hast made me ful of wrinkles which is a witness thereof, and my leannes riseth up in me, testifying the same in my face.
9.His wrath hathe torne me, & he hateth me, and gnasheth upon me with his teeth: mine enemie hathe sharpened his eies against me.
10.They have opened their mouthes upon me, and smitten me on the cheke in reproche: they gather them selves together against me.
11.God hathe delivered me to the unjust, and hathe made me to turne out of the way by the hands of the wicked.
12.I was in welth, but he hathe broght me to noght: he hathe taken me by the necke, and beaten me, and set in me as a marke for him self.
13.His archers compasse me round about: he cutteth my reines, and doeth not spare, and powreth my gall upon the grounde.
14.He hathe broken me with one breaking upon another, and runneth upon me like a gyant.
15.I have sowed a sackecloth upon my skin, & have abased mine horne unto the dust.
16.My face is withered with weping, and the shadow of death is upon mine eies,
17.Thogh there be no wickedness in mine hands, and my prayer be pure.
18.O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my crying finde no place.
19.For lo, now my witnes is in the heaven, and my record is on hie.
20.My friends speake eloquently against me: but mine eye powreth out teares unto God.
21.Oh that a man might pleade with God, as man with his neighbour!
22.For the yeres accounted come, and I shal go the way, whence I shal not returne.

Notes

3-a.
Which serve for vain ostentation and for no true comfort.
3-b.
For Eliphaz did reply against Job’s answer.
4-c.
I would you felt that which I do.
4-d.
That is, mock at your miserie, as you do at mine.
5-e.
If this were in my power, yet would I comfort you, and not do as you do to me.
6-f.
If they would say, Why do you not then comfort yourself? he answers, that the judgements of God are more heavy, then he is able to aswage either by words or silence.
7-g.
Meaning, God.
7-h.
That is, destroyed most of my family.
8-i.
In token of sorrow and grief.
9-k.
That is, God by his wrath: and in this diversity of words and high stile he expresses how grievous the hand of God was upon him.
10-l.
That is, have handled me most contemptuously: for so smiting on the cheek signified, 1 King 22.24; Mk 14.65.
11-m.
They have led me whither they would.
13-n.
His manifold afflictions.
13-o.
I am wounded to the heart. 1 Geneva Bible 1560
15-p.
Meaning, his glory was brought low.
17-q.
Signifying, that he is not able to comprehend the cause of this his grievous punishment.
17-r.
That is, unfeigned, and without hypocrisy.
18-s.
Let my sin be known, if I be such a sinner as my adversaries accuse me, and let me find no favour.
19-t.
Though man condemn me, yet God is witness of my cause.
20-u.
Use painted words instead of true consolation.
21-x.
Thus by his great torments he is carried away, and brasts out into passions, and speaks unadvisedly, as though God should entreat man more gently, seeing he has but a short time here to live.