1 T hen Job answered,

¶ And Job answered and said,

2 “ Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

Oh that my grief and calamity were justly weighed and laid equally in the balances!

3 F or now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.

For 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 up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks of the poison; and terrors of God combat me.

5 D oes the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

Does the wild ass bray when he has grass? Does the ox low over his fodder?

6 C an that which has no flavor 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 before, now by my sorrow are my food.

8 “ Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant 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 crush me; that he would let 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 B e it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Then should my comfort grow; I would hold on to sorrow without mercy; for I have not contradicted the words of the Holy One.

11 W hat is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

What is my strength that I should hope? What is my end that I should prolong my life?

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 of steel?

13 I sn’t it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

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

14 “ To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

¶ He that is afflicted deserves mercy from his friend; but he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.

15 M y brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

My brethren have lied to me as a brook; they passed away as an impetuous stream,

16 W hich are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

which was hidden by ice and covered by snow.

17 I n the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

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

18 T he caravans that travel beside them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.

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

19 T he caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.

The travelers of Tema looked; the traveling companies of Sheba waited for them.

20 T hey were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.

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

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

Now ye are certainly as they; ye have seen the torment and are afraid.

22 D id I say, ‘Give to me?’ or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance?’

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

23 o r, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?’ or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?’

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

24 “ Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Teach me, and I will be silent; and cause me to understand in what I have erred.

25 H ow forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

How forcible are the words of rectitude! But what does your argument reprove?

26 D o you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

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

27 Y es, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

Ye also overwhelm the fatherless and dig a pit before your friend.

28 N ow therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.

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

29 P lease return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.

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

30 I s there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?

If there is iniquity in my tongue or if my taste cannot discern the torments.