1 A nd Job answereth and saith: --

Then Job answered,

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

“If only my trials and troubles were weighed!

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

They would weigh more than the sand of the seas. My words have been spoken fast and without thought.

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

For the arrows of the All-powerful are in me. My spirit drinks their poison. The hard things from God are like an army against me.

5 B rayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?

Does the wild donkey make noise when it has grass? Or does the bull make noise when it has food?

6 E aten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?

Can something that has no taste be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 M y soul is refusing to touch! They as my sickening food.

My soul will not touch them. They are like hated food to me.

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

“If only I might get what I ask for, and that God would give me what I desire!

9 T hat God would please -- and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!

If only God were willing to crush me, that He would let His hand loose and destroy me!

10 A nd 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.

But this gives me comfort even though I suffer much pain because I have not turned away from the words of the Holy One.

11 W hat my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?

What strength have I, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should not give up?

12 I s my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?

Do I have the strength of stones? Is my flesh brass?

13 I s not my help with me, And substance driven from me?

I have no power to help myself, and a way out is far from me.

14 T o a despiser of his friends shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.

“Kindness from a friend should be shown to a man without hope, or he might turn away from the fear of the All-powerful.

15 M y brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.

My brothers have been like rivers that are not there when needed.

16 T hat are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.

They are dark because of ice and snow turning into water.

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

When they have no water, there is no noise. When it is hot, they are not there.

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

The people on their camels turn away from them. They go into the waste places and die.

19 P assengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.

The people and camels of Tema looked. The travelers of Sheba hoped for them.

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

They were troubled for they had trusted. They came there and their hope goes.

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

Yes, this is how you have been. You see my trouble and are afraid.

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

Have I said, ‘Give me something,’ or, ‘Pay something from your riches to help me’?

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

Have I said, ‘Take me out from under the power of the one who hates me,’ or, ‘Save me from those who make it hard for me’?

24 S hew me, and I -- I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.

“Teach me, and I will be quiet. Show me where I have been wrong.

25 H ow powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?

Honest words give pain. But what does your arguing prove?

26 F or reproof -- do you reckon words? And for wind -- sayings of the desperate.

Do you think you can speak against my words, and act as if the words of a man without hope are wind?

27 A nger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.

You would even draw names over those who have no father, and make trades over your friend.

28 A nd, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?

Now be pleased to look at me, and see if I lie to your face.

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

I ask that you change your minds and let no wrong be done. Stop now, for I am still right and good.

30 I s there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?

Is there wrong-doing on my tongue? Can I not taste trouble?