Job 16:6–17

⁶If I speak, my pain is not eased. 

If I stop talking, how much of it will go away? 

⁷“But now, God has worn me out. 

You, ⸤God,⸥ have destroyed everyone who supports me. 

⁸You have shriveled me up, which itself is a witness ⸤against me⸥. 

My frail body rises up and testifies against me. 

Job Describes What God Has Done to Him

⁹“God’s anger tore me ⸤apart⸥ and attacked me. 

He gritted his teeth at me. 

My opponent looked sharply at me. 

¹⁰People ridiculed me with their mouths. 

They slapped my cheeks with contempt. 

They united against me. 

¹¹God handed me over to unjust people 

and threw me into the hands of wicked people. 

¹²I was at ease, and he shattered me. 

He grabbed me by the back of the neck and smashed ⸤my skull⸥. 

He set me up as his target, 

¹³and his archers surrounded me. 

He slashes open my kidneys without mercy 

and spills my blood^aon the ground. 

¹⁴He inflicts wound after wound on me. 

He lunges at me like a warrior. 

¹⁵“I have sewn sackcloth over my skin, 

and I have thrown my strength in the dust. 

¹⁶My face is red from crying, 

and dark shadows encircle my eyes, 

¹⁷although my hands have done nothing violent, 

and my prayer is sincere.