^{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?