1 T hen Job answered,

Then 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 fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales!

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 sea— 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; My spirit drinks in their poison; 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 when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its 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 flavorless food 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 as 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 I might have my request, 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!

That it would please God 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!

Then I would still have comfort; Though in anguish I would exult, He will 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 strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my 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 bronze?

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

Is my help not within me? And is success 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.

“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes 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 dealt deceitfully like a brook, Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,

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

Which are dark because of the ice, And into which the snow vanishes.

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

When it is warm, they cease to flow; 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 way turn aside, They go nowhere and perish.

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

The caravans of Tema look, The travelers of Sheba hope for them.

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

They are disappointed because they were confident; They come there and are confused.

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

For now you are nothing, You see terror 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 ever say, ‘Bring something to me’? 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 enemy’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?

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; 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 forceful are right words! But what does your arguing 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 rebuke my words, And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?

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

Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend.

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

Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; For I would never lie to your face.

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

Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands!

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

Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?