Abandonment by God and Man

16:6 “But15 if I speak, my pain is not relieved,16

and if I refrain from speaking

—how17 much of it goes away?

16:7 Surely now he18 has worn me out,

you have devastated my entire household.

16:8 You have seized me,19

and it20 has become a witness;

my leanness21 has risen up against me

and testifies against me.

16:9 His22 anger has torn me23 and persecuted24 me;

he has gnashed at me with his teeth;

my adversary locks25 his eyes on me.

16:10 People26 have opened their mouths against me,

they have struck my cheek in scorn;27

they unite28 together against me.

16:11 God abandons me to evil29 men,30

and throws31 me into the hands of wicked men.

16:12 I was in peace, and he has shattered me.32

He has seized me by the neck and crushed me.33

He has made me his target;

16:13 his archers34 surround me.

Without pity35 he pierces36 my kidneys

and pours out my gall37 on the ground.

16:14 He breaks through against me, time and time again;38

he rushes39 against me like a warrior.

16:15 I have sewed sackcloth on my skin,40

and buried41 my horn42 in the dust;

16:16 my face is reddened43 because of weeping,44

and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,45

16:17 although46 there is no violence in my hands

and my prayer is pure.