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?
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.
Job 16:2–6 — The New International Version (NIV)
2 “I have heard many things like these;
you are miserable comforters, all of you!
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?
What ails you that you keep on arguing?
4 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.
5 But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6 “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)
2 “I have heard many such things;
miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall windy words have an end?
Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 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.
5 I could strengthen you with my mouth,
and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6 “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)
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?
Job 16:2–6 — New Living Translation (NLT)
2 “I have heard all this before.
What miserable comforters you are!
3 Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air?
What makes you keep on talking?
4 I could say the same things if you were in my place.
I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.
5 But if it were me, I would encourage you.
I would try to take away your grief.
6 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)
2 “I have heard many such things;
Miserable comforters are you all!
3 Shall words of wind 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 heap up words against you,
And shake my head at you;
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,
And the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief.
6 “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)
2 “I have heard many things like these.
You are all painful comforters!
3 Will your long-winded speeches never end?
What makes you keep on arguing?
4 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.
5 But, instead, I would encourage you,
and my words would bring you relief.
6 “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)
2 I have heard many such things:
Miserable comforters are ye all.
3 Shall vain words have an end?
Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?
4 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.
5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth,
And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.
6 Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged;
And though I forbear, what am I eased?
Job 16:2–6 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
2 I have heard many such things: grievous comforters are ye all. 3 Shall words of wind have an end? or what provoketh thee that thou answerest? 4 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; 5 But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage your pain.
6 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)
2 “I have heard many things like this before.
You are all pathetic at comforting me.
3 Will ⸤your⸥ long-winded speeches never end?
What disturbs you that you keep on answering ⸤me⸥?
4 I, too, could speak like you
if we could trade places.
I could string words together against you
and shake my head at you.
5 I could encourage you with my mouth,
and my quivering lips could ease ⸤your pain⸥.
6 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)
2 I have heard many things like these.
You are all miserable comforters.
3 Is there no end to your empty words?
What provokes you that you continue testifying?
4 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.
5 Instead, I would encourage you with my mouth,
and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.
6 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)
2 “I have heard many such things;
miserable comforters are you all.
3 Have windy words no limit?
Or what provokes you that you keep on talking?
4 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.
5 I could encourage you with my mouth,
and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6 “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)
2 “I have heard many things like these;
all of you are miserable comforters.
3 Is there a limit to windy words?
What provokes you that you answer?
4 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.
5 I could encourage you with my mouth,
and the solace of my lips would ease the pain.
6 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)
2 “I’ve heard many of those things before.
You are terrible at comforting me!
3 Your speeches go on forever.
Won’t they ever end?
What’s wrong with you?
Why do you keep on arguing?
4 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.
5 But what I might say would give you hope.
My words of comfort would help you.
6 “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)
2 “I have heard many such things;
Sorry comforters are you all.
3 “Is there no limit to windy words?
Or what plagues you that you answer?
4 “I too could speak like you,
If I were in your place.
I could compose words against you
And shake my head at you.
5 “I could strengthen you with my mouth,
And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain.
6 “If I speak, my pain is not lessened,
And if I hold back, what has left me?