1 B ut Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

“ 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 sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

“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 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 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 is unsavoury 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 T he things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

“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 destroy 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 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.

“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 hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

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

“My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,

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

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

“The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29 R eturn, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

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

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

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