1 T hen Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

“ 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 seas: Therefore have my words been rash.

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

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 my spirit drinks; 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?

“Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low 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?

“Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or 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.

“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 E ven 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 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.

“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 is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, 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 the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

“Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze?

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

“Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven 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 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 by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself:

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

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

“When they become waterless, they are silent, When it is hot, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

23 O r, 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 uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?

“How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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