Job's Witness in Heaven
Job 16
Job answers that his friends are miserable comforters whose words bring no relief, describing how he feels attacked and worn down as if by an enemy. He insists his hands are free of injustice and appeals to a witness and advocate in heaven who may plead his cause before the Lord.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTO this Job replied,
BrentonBut Job answered and said,
GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Ἰὼβ, λέγει,
KJVThen Job answered and said,
JPSThen Job answered and said:
2
ThomsonI have heard many such things, ye miserable comforters all!
BrentonI have heard many such things: poor comforters are ye all.
GreekἈκήκοα τοιαῦτα πολλὰ, παρακλήτορες κακῶν πάντες.
KJVI have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
JPSI have heard many such things; Sorry comforters are ye all.
3
Thomson—
BrentonWhat! is there any reason in vain words? or what will hinder thee from answering?
GreekΤί γάρ; μὴ τάξις ἐστὶ ῥήμασι πνεύματος; ἢ τί παρενοχλήσει σοι ὅτι ἀποκρίνῃ;
KJVShall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?
JPS—
4
ThomsonI indeed could speak as you do. But were your soul in my soul’s stead, would I insult you with words and shake my head at you?
BrentonI also will speak as ye do: if indeed your soul were in my soul's stead, then would I insult you with words, and I would shake my head at you.
GreekΚᾀγὼ καθʼ ὑμᾶς λαλήσω· εἰ ὑπέκειτό γε ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν ἀντὶ τῆς ἐμῆς, εἶτʼ ἐναλοῦμαι ὑμῖν ῥήμασι· κινήσω δὲ καθʼ ὑμῶν κεφαλήν.
KJVI 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.
JPSI 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
ThomsonAnd should there be strength in my mouth; would I not spare moving my lips?
BrentonAnd would there were strength in my mouth, and I would not spare the movement of my lips.
GreekΕἴη δὲ ἰσχὺς ἐν τῷ στόματί μου, κίνησιν δὲ χειλέων οὐ φείσομαι.
KJVBut I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
JPSI would strengthen you with my mouth, And the moving of my lips would assuage your grief.
6
ThomsonFor if I speak shall I not bemoan the wound? And if I hold my peace, shall I be any the less wounded?
BrentonFor if I should speak, I shall not feel the pain of my wound: and if I should be silent, how shall I be wounded the less?
GreekἘὰν γὰρ λαλήσω, οὐκ ἀλγήσω τὸ τραῦμα· ἐὰν δὲ καὶ σιωπήσω, τί ἔλαττον τρωθήσομαι;
KJV—
JPS—
7
ThomsonBut now when He hath made me a poor rotten fool;
BrentonBut now he has made me weary, and a worn-out fool; and thou hast laid hold of me.
GreekΝῦν δὲ κατάκοπόν με πεποίηκε μωρὸν σεσηπότα, καὶ ἐπελάβου μου.
KJVBut now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.
JPSBut now He hath made me weary; Thou hast made desolate all my company.
8
Thomsonthou indeed hast fallen upon me. My lie is become a witness, and hath risen up against me—it hath answered me to my face.
BrentonMy falsehood has become a testimony, and has risen up against me: it has confronted me to my face.
GreekΕἰς μαρτύριον ἐγενήθη, καὶ ἀνέστη ἐν ἐμοὶ τὸ ψεῦδός μου, κατὰ πρόσωπόν μου ἀνταπεκρίθη.
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonWhen in His wrath He threw me down and gnashed His teeth at me; the darts of his executioners fell upon me.
BrentonIn his anger he has cast me down; he has gnashed his teeth upon me: the weapons of his robbers have fallen upon me.
GreekὈργῇ χρησάμενος κατέβαλέ με, ἔβρυξεν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ τοὺς ὀδόντας, βέλη πειρατῶν αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ ἐμοὶ ἔπεσαν.
KJV—
JPS—
10
ThomsonWhen with the darts of His eyes He had transfixed me—with His spear had brought me on my knees: they with one consent rushed upon me.
BrentonHe has attacked me with the keen glances of his eyes; with his sharp spear he has smitten me down upon my knees; and they have run upon me with one accord.
GreekἈκίσιν ὀφθαλμῶν ἐνήλατο, ὀξεῖ ἔπαισέ με εἰς τὰ γόνατα, ὁμοθυμαδὸν δὲ κατέδραμον ἐπʼ ἐμοί.
KJV—
JPS—
11
ThomsonThe Lord hath indeed delivered me up to the unrighteous; and turned me over to the ungodly.
BrentonFor the Lord has delivered me into the hands of unrighteous men, and thrown me upon the ungodly.
GreekΠαρέδωκε γάρ με ὁ Κύριος εἰς χείρας ἀδίκων, ἐπὶ δὲ ἀσεβέσιν ἔῤῥιψέ με.
KJVGod hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.
JPSGod delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.
12
ThomsonWhen I was at peace He broke me up—taking me by the hair He shook me—He set me up as a mark.
BrentonWhen I was at peace he distracted me: he took me by the hair of the head, and plucked it out: he set me up as a mark.
GreekΕἰρηνεύοντα διεσκέδασέ με· λαβών με τῆς κόμης διέτιλε, κατέστησέ με ὥσπερ σκοπόν.
KJV—
JPS—
13
ThomsonThey surrounded me with javelins, darting them into my reins—without mercy they poured my gall on the ground.
BrentonThey surrounded me with spears, aiming at my reins: without sparing me they poured out my gall upon the ground.
GreekἘκύκλωσάν με λόγχαις βάλλοντες εἰς νεφρούς μου, οὐ φειδόμενοι ἐξέχεαν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν χολήν μου·
KJVHis archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.
JPSHis archers compass me round about, He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.
14
ThomsonThey shot me, one deadly wound on another—they ran against me with all their might.
BrentonThey overthrew me with fall upon fall: they ran upon me in their might.
GreekΚατέβαλόν με πτῶμα ἐπὶ πτώματι, ἔδραμον πρὸς μὲ δυνάμενοι.
KJV—
JPS—
15
ThomsonThey sewed sackcloth on my skin: and my strength was extinguished in the dust.
BrentonThey sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and my strength has been spent on the ground.
GreekΣάκκον ἔῤῥαψαν ἐπὶ βύρσης μου, τὸ δὲ σθένος μου ἐν γῇ ἐσβέσθη.
KJVI have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.
JPSI have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.
16
ThomsonMy belly was burned up with wailing; and on mine eyelids were the shades of death:
BrentonMy belly has been parched with wailing, and darkness is on my eyelids.
GreekἩ γαστήρ μου συγκέκαυται ἀπὸ κλαυθμοῦ, ἐπὶ δὲ βλεφάροις μου σκιά.
KJV—
JPS—
17
Thomsonyet there was no iniquity in my hands. And my prayer was pure.
BrentonYet there was no injustice in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
GreekἌδικον δὲ οὐδὲν ἦν ἐν χερσί μου, εὐχὴ δέ μου καθαρά.
KJVNot for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
JPSAlthough there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.
18
ThomsonO earth, cover not the blood of my flesh, nor let there be a place for this cry of mine.
BrentonEarth, cover not over the blood of my flesh, and let my cry have no place.
GreekΓῆ μὴ ἐπικαλύψῃς ἐφʼ αἵματι τῆς σαρκός μου, μηδὲ εἴη τόπος τῇ κραυγῇ μου.
KJVO earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
JPSO earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no resting-place.
19
ThomsonEven now, behold my witness is in heaven; and He who hath a perfect knowledge of me is on high.
BrentonAnd now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἰδοὺ ἐν οὐρανοῖς ὁ μάρτυς μου, ὁ δὲ συνίστωρ μου ἐν ὑψίστοις.
KJVAlso now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
JPSEven now, behold, my Witness is in heaven, And He that testifieth of me is on high.
20
ThomsonO that my suit could come before the Lord, and that before Him mine eye could drop a tear!
BrentonLet my supplication come to the Lord, and let mine eye weep before him.
GreekἈφίκοιτό μου ἡ δέησις πρὸς Κύριον, ἔναντι δὲ αὐτοῦ στάζοι μου ὁ ὀφθαλμός.
KJV—
JPS—
21
ThomsonThat a man could plead before the Lord, as a son of man may with his neighbour!
BrentonOh that a man might plead before the Lord, even as the son of man with his neighbour!
GreekΕἴη δὲ ἔλεγχος ἀνδρὶ ἔναντι Κυρίου, καὶ υἱῷ ἀνθρώπου τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ.
KJVO that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
JPSThat He would set aright a man contending with God, As a son of man setteth aright his neighbour! .
22
ThomsonBut my numbered days are come, and I must go the way, by which I cannot return.
BrentonBut my years are numbered and their end come, and I shall go by the way by which I shall not return.
GreekἜτη δὲ ἀριθμητὰ ἥκασιν, ὁδῷ δὲ ᾗ οὐκ ἐπαναστραφήσομαι, πορεύσομαι.
KJVWhen a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.
JPSFor the years that are few are coming on, And I shall go the way whence I shall not return.