Job 16:18
16 My face is red with weeping, and deep shadows ring my eyes;
17 yet my hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure.
O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
19 Even now my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high.
20 My friends are my scoffers as my eyes pour out tears to God.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
- KJV
- O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
- WEB
- “Earth, don’t cover my blood. Let my cry have no place to rest.
- ASV
- O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting] -place.
- DARBY
- O earth, cover not my blood, and let there be no place for my cry!
- BLB
- O earth, may you not cover my blood, and let there not be a place for my cry!
- ÅB
- Å jord, dekk ikke mitt blod[^4], og måtte det ikke være noe sted hvor mitt skrik stanser!
- OTB
- "Å jord, dekk ikke mitt blod;
må mitt rop ikke finne noe hvilested! - B1930
- Å jord, dekk ikke mitt blod, og måtte det ikke være noget sted hvor mitt skrik stanser! / < JES 26, 21. 1MO 4, 10.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 26:21
For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
Read in contextEzekiel 24:7
For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.
Read in contextPsalms 66:18–19
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Read in contextGenesis 4:11
Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Read in contextNehemiah 4:5
Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders.
Read in contextJeremiah 22:29
O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!
Read in contextJames 4:3–4
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.
Read in contextIsaiah 1:15
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Read in context