Charles Ellicott Commentary Job 16:1

"Then Job answered and said," — Job 16:1 (ASV)

Then Job answered. —In replying, Job no longer continues the argument, which he finds useless.

But, after complaining about how his friends have conducted it, and contrasting how they have treated him with how he would treat them if they were in his situation, he proceeds again to elaborate on his condition.

He makes a touching appeal to Heaven, which prepares us for the more complete confession in Job 19:0. He ends by declaring that his case is desperate.