1 T hen Job answered,

Then Job answered,

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 actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my calamity!

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

“For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; Therefore my words have been rash.

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, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

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

“Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low 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 something tasteless 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!

“My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.

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

“Oh that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my longing!

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

“Would that God were willing to crush me, That He would 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!

“But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied 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 wait? And what is my end, that I should endure?

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 bronze?

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

“Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven 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.

“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

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

“My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,

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

Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow melts.

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

“When they become waterless, they are silent, When it is hot, they vanish from 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 course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish.

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

“The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them.

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

“They were disappointed for they had trusted, They came there and were confounded.

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

“Indeed, you have now become such, You see a terror and are afraid.

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

“Have I said, ‘Give me something,’ Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’

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

Or, ‘Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,’ Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?

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

“Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how 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 painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

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

“Do you intend to reprove my words, When the words of one in despair belong to the wind?

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

“You would even cast lots for the orphans And barter over your friend.

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

“Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face.

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

“Desist now, let there be no injustice; Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it.

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

“Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern calamities?