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Job 16:2–6

“I’ve had all I can take of your talk.

What a bunch of miserable comforters!

Is there no end to your windbag speeches?

What’s your problem that you go on and on like this?

If you were in my shoes,

I could talk just like you.

I could put together a terrific harangue

and really let you have it.

But I’d never do that. I’d console and comfort,

make things better, not worse!

6–14  “When I speak up, I feel no better;

if I say nothing, that doesn’t help either.

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Job 16:2–6 — The New International Version (NIV)

“I have heard many things like these;

you are miserable comforters, all of you!

Will your long-winded speeches never end?

What ails you that you keep on arguing?

I also could speak like you,

if you were in my place;

I could make fine speeches against you

and shake my head at you.

But my mouth would encourage you;

comfort from my lips would bring you relief.

“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved;

and if I refrain, it does not go away.

Job 16:2–6 — English Standard Version (ESV)

“I have heard many such things;

miserable comforters are you all.

Shall windy words have an end?

Or what provokes you that you answer?

I also could speak as you do,

if you were in my place;

I could join words together against you

and shake my head at you.

I could strengthen you with my mouth,

and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.

“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,

and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?

Job 16:2–6 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

I have heard many such things:

Miserable comforters are ye all.

Shall vain words have an end?

Or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?

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.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.

Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged:

And though I forbear, what am I eased?

Job 16:2–6 — New Living Translation (NLT)

“I have heard all this before.

What miserable comforters you are!

Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air?

What makes you keep on talking?

I could say the same things if you were in my place.

I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.

But if it were me, I would encourage you.

I would try to take away your grief.

Instead, I suffer if I defend myself,

and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.

Job 16:2–6 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

“I have heard many such things;

Miserable comforters are you all!

Shall words of wind have an end?

Or what provokes you that you answer?

I also could speak as you do,

If your soul were in my soul’s place.

I could heap up words against you,

And shake my head at you;

But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.

“Though I speak, my grief is not relieved;

And if I remain silent, how am I eased?

Job 16:2–6 — New Century Version (NCV)

“I have heard many things like these.

You are all painful comforters!

Will your long-winded speeches never end?

What makes you keep on arguing?

I also could speak as you do

if you were in my place.

I could make great speeches against you

and shake my head at you.

But, instead, I would encourage you,

and my words would bring you relief.

“Even if I speak, my pain is not less,

and if I don’t speak, it still does not go away.

Job 16:2–6 — American Standard Version (ASV)

I have heard many such things:

Miserable comforters are ye all.

Shall vain words have an end?

Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?

I also could speak as ye do;

If your soul were in my soul’s stead,

I could join words together against you,

And shake my head at you.

But I would strengthen you with my mouth,

And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.

Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged;

And though I forbear, what am I eased?

Job 16:2–6 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all. Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest? I also could speak as ye: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could join together words against you, and shake my head at you; But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage your pain.

If I speak, my pain is not assuaged; and if I forbear, what am I eased?

Job 16:2–6 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

“I have heard many things like this before. 

You are all pathetic at comforting me. 

Will ⸤your⸥ long-winded speeches never end? 

What disturbs you that you keep on answering ⸤me⸥? 

I, too, could speak like you 

if we could trade places. 

I could string words together against you 

and shake my head at you. 

I could encourage you with my mouth, 

and my quivering lips could ease ⸤your pain⸥. 

If I speak, my pain is not eased. 

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

Job 16:2–6 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

I have heard many things like these.

You are all miserable comforters.

Is there no end to your empty words?

What provokes you that you continue testifying?

If you were in my place I could also talk like you.

I could string words together against you

and shake my head at you.

Instead, I would encourage you with my mouth,

and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.

Even if I speak, my suffering is not relieved,

and if I hold back, what have I lost?

Job 16:2–6 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

“I have heard many such things;

miserable comforters are you all.

Have windy words no limit?

Or what provokes you that you keep on talking?

I also could talk as you do,

if you were in my place;

I could join words together against you,

and shake my head at you.

I could encourage you with my mouth,

and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.

“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,

and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?

Job 16:2–6 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

“I have heard many things like these;

all of you are miserable comforters.

Is there a limit to windy words?

What provokes you that you answer?

I myself also could talk as you,

if you were in my place;

I could join against you with words,

and I could shake at you with my head.

I could encourage you with my mouth,

and the solace of my lips would ease the pain.

If I speak, my pain is not relieved;

and if I cease, how much will leave me?

Job 16:2–6 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

“I’ve heard many of those things before.

You are terrible at comforting me!

Your speeches go on forever.

Won’t they ever end?

What’s wrong with you?

Why do you keep on arguing?

If you and I changed places,

I could say the same things you are saying.

I could make fine speeches against you.

I could shake my head at you.

But what I might say would give you hope.

My words of comfort would help you.

“If I speak, it doesn’t help me.

And if I keep quiet, my pain doesn’t go away.

Job 16:2–6 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

“I have heard many such things;

Sorry comforters are you all.

“Is there no limit to windy words?

Or what plagues you that you answer?

“I too could speak like you,

If I were in your place.

I could compose words against you

And shake my head at you.

“I could strengthen you with my mouth,

And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.

If I speak, my pain is not lessened,

And if I hold back, what has left me?


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