1 T hen Job answered and said:

But Job answered and said,

2 “ Oh, that my grief were fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales!

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

3 F or then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea— Therefore my words have been rash.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

4 F or the arrows of the Almighty are within me; My spirit drinks in their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

For 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.

5 D oes the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder?

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6 C an flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 M y soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

8 “ Oh, that I might have my request, 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 T hat it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 T hen I would still have comfort; Though in anguish I would exult, He will not spare; For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Then 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.

11 “ What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

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

12 I s my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze?

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13 I s my help not within me? And is success driven from me?

Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

14 “ To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15 M y brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

16 W hich are dark because of the ice, And into which the snow vanishes.

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

17 W hen it is warm, they cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18 T he paths of their way turn aside, They go nowhere and perish.

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

19 T he caravans of Tema look, The travelers of Sheba hope for them.

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

20 T hey are disappointed because they were confident; They come there and are confused.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

21 F or now you are nothing, You see terror and are afraid.

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

22 D id I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’? Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

23 O r, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

24 “ Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; 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 forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove?

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

26 D o you intend to rebuke my words, And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

27 Y es, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend.

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

28 N ow therefore, be pleased to look at me; For I would never lie to your face.

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

29 Y ield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands!

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

30 I s there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?