16 Then Iyyov answered Elifaz:

2 I’ve heard many things like that before.

You come to comfort, but bring trouble instead.

3 You need to limit your words full of wind.

What makes you keep responding?

4 I could also speak like you all if you were in my place.

I could string words together against you all and shake my head at you.

5 Alternatively, I could use my mouth to encourage you all.

My lips could be used instead to bring relief.

6 Even when I speak, it doesn’t take away my pain.

But if I hold back, how will it go away?

7 However, he’s now worn me out.

My entire household has been devastated.

8 You’ve made me lose so much weight that everyone can’t help notice it.

≈My being so thin is used against me so people think from my face that I must be guilty.

9 His anger has ripped my body open

≈and in his hate he’s gnashed at me with his teeth.

Even my enemy locks his eyes on me.

10 People stare at me with their mouths wide open.

They slap my cheek in contempt as they join together against me.

11 God has handed me over to a YOUNG BOY

and he throws me into the hands of wicked people.

12 I was just living my life and he shattered me.

≈He grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces.

He set me up as a his target.

13 ≈Soldiers with bows and arrows surround me.

He pierces my kidneys but doesn’t care.

≈He splits my gallbladder and pours my bile out on the ground.

14 He keeps breaking through my protective walls.

≈He charges against me like a warrior.

15 I’ve dressed in sackcloth to show I’m mourning.

≈I’ve tossed my horn into the dust to show I’m defeated.

16 My face is red from so much crying.

My eyelids are surrounded by dark shadows.

17 I haven’t committed any violence.

My prayer is pure.

18 Earth, don’t just cover over my blood.

Don’t just become a hiding place for my cries.

19 Even now, my witness is there in the heavens,[ref]

≈and my advocate is up on high.

20 My friends scorn me.

The tears of my eyes are directed to God.

21 May someone plead with God for a man,

and a son of humanity plead for his friend.

22 When a certain number of years have passed,

I’ll go on a path that I won’t return from.

17 My spirit is broken,

my days are extinguished,

≈only the grave is left.

2 Surely there’s mockers with me.

My eye is held by their provocations.

3 Please give yourself to cover my bail.

Who else would put up security for me?

4 You’ve closed their minds from being able to understand,

so therefore you won’t elevate them over me.

5 People who’d denounce their friends for some gain,

should expect their children to be selfish also.

6 He’s made me into a local gossip point.

Someone to spit at in the face.

7 My eyes have become dark from my grief.

≈Every one of my body parts is just like a shadow.

8 Godly people are appalled by this,

≈and innocent people are stirred up against those who’re godless.

9 But those who obey will be able to stay on the correct road,

≈and those who haven’t done anything wrong will become stronger.

10 But all of them and you all may return now and come,

and I wouldn’t find a wise person among you all.

11 My good days have passed.

My plans are shattered,

even my secret desires.

12 They change night into day in their minds—

≈making light seem near while staring into the darkness.

13 If I wait for the grave to become my home,

if I’ve spread out my blankets ready to sleep in the darkness,

14 if I’ve called out and told the pit that it’s my father,

and to the worm that it’s my mother and my sister,

15 then where would my hope be placed?

Who would know that I had any hope?

16 Will they go down to the gates of the grave?

≈Will we go down together into the ground?