1 T hen Job answered and said:

Then Job answered,

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

“ Oh that my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my calamity!

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

“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; My spirit drinks in their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed 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 oes the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder?

“Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his fodder?

6 C an flavorless food 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 M y soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.

“My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.

8 “ Oh, that I might have my request, 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 T hat it would please God to crush me, That He would 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 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.

“But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied 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 wait? And what is my end, that I should endure?

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 bronze?

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

“Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?

14 “ To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes 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 brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,

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

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

Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow melts.

17 W hen it is warm, they cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from 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 turn aside, They go nowhere and perish.

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

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

“The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them.

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

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

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

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

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

“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 oppressors’?

Or, ‘Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,’ Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?

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

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

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

“Do you intend to reprove my words, When the words of one in despair belong to the wind?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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