1 T hen Job answered,

But Job answered and said,

2 O h, that my impatience and vexation might be weighed and all my calamity be laid up over against them in the balances, one against the other!

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

3 F or now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash and wild,

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

4 b ecause the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison which my spirit drinks up; the terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

5 D oes the wild ass bray when it has grass? Or does the ox low over its fodder?

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6 C an that which has no taste to it be eaten without salt? Or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 m y soul refuses to touch! Such things are like diseased food to me!

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

8 O h, that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 I even wish that it would please God to crush me, that He would let loose His hand and cut me off!

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 T hen would I still have consolation—yes, I would leap amid unsparing pain —that I have not concealed or denied the words of the Holy One!

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

11 W hat strength have I left, that I should wait and hope? And what is ahead of me, that I should be patient?

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

12 I s my strength and endurance that of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13 I s it not that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom is quite driven from me?

Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

14 T o him who is about to faint and despair, kindness is due from his friend, lest he forsake the fear of the Almighty.

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15 m y brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away,

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

16 W hich are black and turbid by reason of the ice, and in which the snows hides itself;

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

17 W hen they get warm, they shrink and disappear; when it is hot, they vanish out of their place.

What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18 T he caravans which travel by way of them turn aside; they go into the waste places and perish.

The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

19 T he caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

20 T hey were confounded because they had hoped; they came there and were bitterly disappointed.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

21 N ow to me you are; you see my dismay and terror, and you are afraid.

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

22 D id I ever say, Bring me a gift, or Pay a bribe on my account from your wealth

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

23 T o deliver me from the adversary’s hand, or Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

24 T each me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

25 H ow forcible are words of straightforward speech! But what does your arguing argue and prove or your reproof reprove?

How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

26 D o you imagine your words to be an argument, but the speeches of one who is desperate to be as wind?

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

27 Y es, you would cast lots over the fatherless and bargain away your friend.

Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

28 N ow be pleased to look upon me, that it may be evident to you if I lie.

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

29 R eturn, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yes, return again, my vindication is in it.

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

30 I s there wrong on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is destructive?

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?