1 Then Job answered, 2 "I have heard many such things. You are all miserable comforters! 3 Shall vain words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? 4 I also could speak as you do. If your soul were in my soul's place, I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you, 5 but I would strengthen you with my mouth. The solace of my lips would relieve you. 6 "Though I speak, my grief is not subsided. Though I forbear, what am I eased? 7 But now, God, you have surely worn me out. You have made desolate all my company. 8 You have shriveled me up. This is a witness against me. My leanness rises up against me. It testifies to my face. 9 He has torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me. He has gnashed on me with his teeth. My adversary sharpens his eyes on me. 10 They have gaped on me with their mouth. They have struck me on the cheek reproachfully. They gather themselves together against me. 11 God delivers me to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked. 12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart. Yes, he has taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces. He has also set me up for his target. 13 His archers surround me. He splits my kidneys apart, and does not spare. He pours out my gall on the ground. 14 He breaks me with breach on breach. He runs on me like a giant. 15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and have thrust my horn in the dust. 16 My face is red with weeping. Deep darkness is on my eyelids. 17 Although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure. 18 "Earth, don't cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest. 19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high. 20 My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God, 21 that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor! 22 For when a few years are come, I shall go the way of no return.
Job replies to Eliphaz, and through him to all his friends, who, instead of comforting him, had added to his misfortunes; and shows that, had they been in his circumstances, he would have treated them in a different manner, Job 16:1-5. Enters into an affecting detail of his suffering, Job 16:6-16. Consoles himself with the consciousness of his own innocence, of which he takes God to witness, and patiently expects a termination of all his sufferings by death, Job 16:17-22.
INTRODUCTION TO JOB 16
This chapter and the following contain Job's reply to the preceding discourse of Eliphaz, in which he complains of the conversation of his friends, as unprofitable, uncomfortable, vain, empty, and without any foundation, Job 16:1; and intimates that were they in his case and circumstances, tie should behave in another manner towards them, not mock at them, but comfort them, Job 16:4; though such was his unhappy case, that, whether he spoke or was silent, it was much the same; there was no alloy to his grief, Job 16:6; wherefore he turns himself to God, and speaks to him, and of what he had done to him, both to his family, and to himself; which things, as they proved the reality of his afflictions, were used by his friends as witnesses against him, Job 16:7; and then enters upon a detail of his troubles, both at the hands of God and man, in order to move the divine compassion, and the pity of his friends, Job 16:9; which occasioned him great sorrow and distress, Job 16:15; yet asserts his own innocence, and appeals to God for the truth of it, Job 16:17; and applies to him, and wishes his cause was pleaded with him, Job 16:20; and concludes with the sense he had of the shortness of his life, Job 16:22; which sentiment is enlarged upon in the following chapter.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.