Job 16:18
16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;
17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.
O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.
20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto 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 cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Read in contextEzekiel 24:7
For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
Read in contextPsalms 66:18–19
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
Read in contextGenesis 4:11
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand;
Read in contextNehemiah 4:5
And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
Read in contextJeremiah 22:29
O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.
Read in contextJames 4:3–4
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Read in contextIsaiah 1:15
And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Read in context