^{1 Ref} Then Job answered and said,

^{2 Ref} Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!

^{3 Ref} For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.

^{4 Ref} For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

^{5 Ref} Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

^{6 Ref} Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

^{7 Ref} My soul refuseth to touch `them'; They are as loathsome food to me.

^{8 Ref} Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant `me' the thing that I long for!

^{9 Ref} Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

^{10 Ref} And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

^{11 Ref} What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

^{12 Ref} Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

^{13 Ref} Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?

^{14 Ref} To him that is ready to faint kindness `should be showed' from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

^{15 Ref} My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;

¹⁶ Which are black by reason of the ice, `And' wherein the snow hideth itself:

^{17 Ref} What time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

¹⁸ The caravans `that travel' by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.

^{19 Ref} The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.

^{20 Ref} They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.

^{21 Ref} For now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.

^{22 Ref} Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?

^{23 Ref} Or, Deliver me from the adversary's hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

^{24 Ref} Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

^{25 Ref} How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?

^{26 Ref} Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?

^{27 Ref} Yea, ye would cast `lots' upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.

^{28 Ref} Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

^{29 Ref} Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

^{30 Ref} Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

^{1 Ref} And Job made answer and said,

^{2 Ref} If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!

^{3 Ref} For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.

^{4 Ref} For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me.

^{5 Ref} Does the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?

^{6 Ref} Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?

^{7 Ref} My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.

^{8 Ref} If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!

^{9 Ref} If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!

^{10 Ref} So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One.

^{11 Ref} Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?

^{12 Ref} Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?

^{13 Ref} I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me.

^{14 Ref} He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.

^{15 Ref} My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:

¹⁶ Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them;

^{17 Ref} Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat.

¹⁸ The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction.

^{19 Ref} The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:

^{20 Ref} They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone.

^{21 Ref} So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.

^{22 Ref} Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?

^{23 Ref} Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?

^{24 Ref} Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.

^{25 Ref} How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?

^{26 Ref} My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.

^{27 Ref} Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.

^{28 Ref} Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.

^{29 Ref} Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.

^{30 Ref} Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?