The actual, original, first printing of the 1611 King James Version (‘HE’ Bible) — Job Chapter 16.

CHAP. XVI.

1 Iob reproueth his friends of vnmercifulnesse. 7 He sheweth the pitifulnesse of his case. 17 He maintaineth his innocencie.

¹ Then Iob answered, and said,

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² I haue heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.²

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³ Shall vaine words haue an ende? or what emboldeneth thee, that thou answerest?³

⁴ I also could speake as yee doe: if your soule were in my soules stead, I could heape vp words against you, and shake mine head at you.

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⁵ But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the mouing of my lips should asswage your griefe.

⁶ Though I speake, my griefe is not asswaged: and though I forbeare; what am I eased?⁶

⁷ But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate al my companie.

⁸ And thou hast filled mee with wrinckles, which is a witnesse against me: and my leannesse rising vp in me, beareth witnesse to my face.

⁹ He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth vpon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes vpon me.

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¹⁰ They haue gaped vpon me with their mouth, they haue smitten me vpon the cheeke reprochfully, they haue gathered themselues together against mee.

¹¹ God hath deliuered me to the vngodly, and turned me ouer into the hands of the wicked.¹¹

¹² I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my necke, and shaken me to pieces, and set me vp for his marke.

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¹³ His archers compasse me round about, he cleaueth my reines asunder, and doeth not spare; he powreth out my gall vpon the ground.

¹⁴ He breaketh me with breach vpon breach, he runneth vpon me like a giant.

¹⁵ I haue sowed sackcloth vpon my skin, and defiled my horne in the dust.

¹⁶ My face is fowle with weeping, and on mine eye-lids is the shadow of death;

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¹⁷ Not for any iniustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

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¹⁸ O earth couer not thou my blood, and let my cry haue no place.

¹⁹ Also now, behold my witnesse is in heauen, and my record is on high.¹⁹

²⁰ My friends scorne me: but mine eye powreth out teares vnto God.²⁰

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²¹ O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour.²¹

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²² When a few yeeres are come, then I shall goe the way whence I shall not returne.²²

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