Job 16:4-6
Job 16:4-6 King James Version (KJV)
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 16:1-14 The Message (MSG)
Then Job defended himself: “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 tirade and really let you have it. But I’d never do that. I’d console and comfort, make things better, not worse! “When I speak up, I feel no better; if I say nothing, that doesn’t help either. I feel worn down. God, you have wasted me totally—me and my family! You’ve shriveled me like a dried prune, showing the world that you’re against me. My gaunt face stares back at me from the mirror, a mute witness to your treatment of me. Your anger tears at me, your teeth rip me to shreds, your eyes burn holes in me—God, my enemy! People take one look at me and gasp. Contemptuous, they slap me around and gang up against me. And God just stands there and lets them do it, lets wicked people do what they want with me. I was contentedly minding my business when God beat me up. He grabbed me by the neck and threw me around. He set me up as his target, then rounded up archers to shoot at me. Merciless, they shot me full of arrows; bitter bile poured from my gut to the ground. He burst in on me, onslaught after onslaught, charging me like a mad bull.
Job 16:4-6 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
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?
Job 16:4-6 New Century Version (NCV)
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 16:4-6 American Standard Version (ASV)
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 16:4-6 New International Version (NIV)
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 16:4-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
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 16:4-6 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“I also could speak like you, If you were in my place; I could compose and join words together against you And shake my head at you. “[But instead] I could strengthen and encourage you with [the words of] my mouth, And the consolation and solace of my lips would soothe your suffering and lessen your anguish. ¶“If I speak [to you miserable comforters], my pain is not relieved; And if I refrain [from speaking], what [pain or anguish] leaves me?
Job 16:4-6 New Living Translation (NLT)
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 16:4-6 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
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?