1 Then Job answered and said,

2 Oh that my vexation were but weighed,

And all my calamity laid in the balances!

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas:

Therefore have my words been rash.

4 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 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass?

Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6 Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt?

Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 My soul refuseth to touch them;

They are as loathsome food to me.

8 Oh that I might have my request;

And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 Even that it would please God to crush me;

That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 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 What is my strength, that I should wait?

And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones?

Or is my flesh of brass?

13 Is it not that I have no help in me,

And that wisdom is driven quite from me?

14 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 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 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 The caravans of Tema looked,

The companies of Sheba waited for them.

20 They were put to shame because they had hoped;

They came thither, and were confounded.

21 For now ye are nothing;

Ye see a terror, and are afraid.

22 Did I say, Give unto me?

Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?

23 Or, Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?

Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace;

And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

25 How forcible are words of uprightness!

But your reproof, what doth it reprove?

26 Do ye think to reprove words,

Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?

27 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless,

And make merchandise of your friend.

28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me;

For surely I shall not lie to your face.

29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice;

Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

30 Is there injustice on my tongue?

Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

1 And Job answereth and saith: --

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

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

4 For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!

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

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

7 My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.

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

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

10 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 What [is] my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?

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

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

14 To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.

15 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 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 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

29 Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again -- my righteousness [is] in it.

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