1 T hen Job answered and said,

And Job answered and said,

2 O h that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!

Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

3 F or now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.

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

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of +God are arrayed against me.

5 D oth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?

6 C an that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 M y soul refuseth to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.

What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.

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 my desire!

9 E ven that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

And that it would please +God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

10 A nd be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 W hat is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?

12 I s my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

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

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

Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?

14 T o him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

For him that is fainting kindness from his friend; or 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 stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,

16 W hich are black by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself:

Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:

17 W hat time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:

18 T he caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.

They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.

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

The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:

20 T hey were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.

They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.

21 F or now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.

So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.

22 D id I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?

Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?

23 O r, Deliver me from the adversary's hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?

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 uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?

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

26 D o ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?

Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.

27 Y ea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.

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

28 N ow therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.

29 R eturn, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.

30 I s there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?