^{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 answereth and saith: --

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

^{3 Ref} For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.

^{4 Ref} For arrows of the Mighty `are' with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves `for' me!

^{5 Ref} Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?

^{6 Ref} Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?

^{7 Ref} My soul is refusing to touch! They `are' as my sickening food.

^{8 Ref} O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!

^{9 Ref} That God would please -- and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!

^{10 Ref} 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 Ref} What `is' my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?

^{12 Ref} Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?

^{13 Ref} Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?

^{14 Ref} To a despiser of his friends `is' shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.

^{15 Ref} My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.

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

^{17 Ref} By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.

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

^{19 Ref} Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.

^{20 Ref} They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.

^{21 Ref} Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.

^{22 Ref} Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?

^{23 Ref} And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?

^{24 Ref} Shew me, and I -- I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.

^{25 Ref} How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?

^{26 Ref} For reproof -- do you reckon words? And for wind -- sayings of the desperate.

^{27 Ref} Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.

^{28 Ref} And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?

^{29 Ref} Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again -- my righteousness `is' in it.

^{30 Ref} Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?