1 ¶ And Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

2 O h that my grief and calamity were justly weighed and laid equally 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 it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore, my words are swallowed up.

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; my spirit drinks of the poison; and terrors of God combat 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 oes the wild ass bray when he has grass? Does the ox low over his fodder?

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

6 C an that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? Or 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 T he things that my soul refused to touch before, now by my sorrow are my food.

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

8 ¶ Oh, 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 me the thing that I long for!

9 E ven that it would please God to destroy 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 my comfort grow; I would hold on to sorrow without mercy; for I have not contradicted 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? What is my end that I should prolong my life?

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? Or is my flesh of steel?

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

13 A m I not doing all that I can, and even with all this I lack the power to do anything?

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

14 ¶ He that is afflicted deserves mercy from his friend; but he has forsaken 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 lied to me as a brook; they passed away as an impetuous stream,

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

16 w hich was hidden by ice and covered by snow.

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

17 W hich in the time of heat, they vanish; when they are heated, they disappear out of their place;

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

18 t hey turn aside out of the paths of their way; they go to nothing and perish.

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

19 T he travelers of Tema looked; the traveling companies of Sheba waited for them.

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

20 T hey were put to shame because of their hope; they came there and found them confused.

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

21 N ow ye are certainly as they; ye have seen the torment and are afraid.

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

22 ¶ Did I say, Bring unto me and pay for me out of your substance

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

23 a nd deliver me from the enemy’s hand and ransom me from the hand of the mighty?

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

24 T each me, and I will be silent; and cause me to understand in what 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 the words of rectitude! But what does your argument reprove?

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

26 A re ye not thinking up words of reproof and throw to the wind words that are lost?

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

27 Y e also overwhelm the fatherless and dig a pit before your friend.

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

28 N ow, therefore, if ye desire, look upon me and see if I shall lie in your presence.

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

29 T urn now, and there is no iniquity; return again to look for my righteousness in this.

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

30 I f there is iniquity in my tongue or if my taste cannot discern the torments.

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