^{1 Ref} Then Job answered,

^{2 Ref} "Oh that my anguish were 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, My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

^{5 Ref} Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

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

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

^{8 Ref} "Oh that I might have my request; That God would grant 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} Be 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.

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

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

^{13 Ref} Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

^{14 Ref} "To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; Even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

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

¹⁶ Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself:

^{17 Ref} In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

¹⁸ The caravans that travel beside 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 distressed because they were confident; They came there, and were confounded.

^{21 Ref} For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

^{22 Ref} Did I say, 'Give to me?' Or, 'Offer a present for me from 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; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

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

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

^{27 Ref} Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.

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

^{29 Ref} Please return. Let there be no injustice; Yes, return again, my cause is righteous.

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

^{1 Ref} But Job answered and said,

^{2 Ref} Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

^{3 Ref} For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

^{4 Ref} For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: 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 is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

^{7 Ref} The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

^{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 destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

^{10 Ref} Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

^{11 Ref} What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

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

^{13 Ref} Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

^{14 Ref} To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

^{15 Ref} My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

¹⁶ Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

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

¹⁸ The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

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

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

^{21 Ref} For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

^{22 Ref} Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

^{23 Ref} Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

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

^{25 Ref} How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

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

^{27 Ref} Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

^{28 Ref} Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

^{29 Ref} Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

^{30 Ref} Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse 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?