1 T hen Job answered,

And Job answereth and saith: --

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

O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!

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

For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.

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 arrows of the Mighty with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves me!

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

Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?

6 C an that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?

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

My soul is refusing to touch! They as my sickening food.

8 “ Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!

9 e ven that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

That God would please -- and bruise me, 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.

And yet it is my comfort, (And I exult in pain -- He doth not spare,) That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.

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

What my power that I should hope? And what mine 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? Is my flesh brazen?

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

Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?

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.

To a despiser of his friends shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.

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

My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.

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

That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.

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

By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.

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

Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.

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

Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.

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

They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.

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

Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.

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

Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?

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

And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?

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

Shew me, and I -- I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.

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

How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?

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

For reproof -- do you reckon words? And for wind -- sayings of the desperate.

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

Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.

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

And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?

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

Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again -- my righteousness in it.

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

Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?