Job, 16

Name: Job
Author: Author's Name
ISBN: Your ISBN Number

Anger Persecution Friendship Suffering Prayer Strength Comforter Judgment Death Neighbor Almighty Sadness

Job responds to Zophar, defending himself and expressing his frustration at his suffering.

verses

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min

Bible version

Job Responds to Zophar

1 Then Job answered and said,

2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.

3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

4 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.

5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?

7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.

8 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.

9 He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.

10 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.

11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

12 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.

13 His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.

14 He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.

15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.

16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;

17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.

19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.

20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.

21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.

Commentary

Job 16 is a chapter in which Job continues to lament his suffering and the injustice of his situation. He begins by expressing his frustration with his friends, who have been trying to convince him that his suffering is a result of his own sin. He accuses them of being too eager to speak and of not understanding the depths of his pain. He then turns his attention to God, asking why He has allowed such suffering to befall him. He expresses his belief that God has been his enemy, and that He has been punishing him without cause. He also expresses his belief that God has been silent in the face of his suffering, and that He has not answered his pleas for justice. Job's words in this chapter are a powerful expression of his anguish and despair. He is clearly overwhelmed by the injustice of his situation, and he is desperate for God to intervene and restore justice. His words are a reminder of the importance of trusting in God, even in the midst of suffering. They also serve as a reminder that God is ultimately in control, and that He will ultimately bring justice and vindication to those who trust in Him.