1 B ut Job answered and said,

And Job answered and said,

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

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 sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

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 drinketh up my spirit: 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 is unsavoury 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 T he things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

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 destroy 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 T hen should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed 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 hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

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 not my help in me? and is wisdom 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 afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he 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, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,

16 W hich are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

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 paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

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

19 T he troops 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 confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

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

21 F or now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

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

22 D id I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward 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 enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

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 tongue: 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 right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

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

26 D o ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which 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 overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

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

28 N ow therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

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 it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

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

30 I s there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

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