1 A nd Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

2 O h that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

Oh, 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!

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

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

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

because 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.

5 D oth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?

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

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

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

7 W hat my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.

my soul refuses to touch! Such things are like diseased food to me!

8 O h that I might have my request, and that +God would grant my desire!

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

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

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

10 T hen 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.

Then 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!

11 W hat is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?

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

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

Is my strength and endurance that of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?

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

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

14 F or him that is fainting kindness from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

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

15 M y brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,

my brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away,

16 W hich are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:

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

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

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

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

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

19 T he caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:

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

20 T hey are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came there and were bitterly disappointed.

21 S o now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.

Now to me you are; you see my dismay and terror, and you are afraid.

22 D id I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?

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

23 O r, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?

To deliver me from the adversary’s hand, or Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

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

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

25 H ow forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?

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

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

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

27 Y ea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig for your friend.

Yes, you would cast lots over the fatherless and bargain away your friend.

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

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

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

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

30 I s there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

Is there wrong on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is destructive?