1 And Job answered and said,2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of +God are arrayed against me.5 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?6 Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.8 Oh that I might have my request, and that +God would grant my desire!9 And that it would please +God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!10 Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?14 For him that is fainting kindness {is meet} from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig {a pit} for your friend.28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

1 Maar Job het geantwoord en gesê:2 Ag, was my verdriet maar goed geweeg en my ongeluk meteens in 'n skaal opgehef!3 Ja, dan sou dit swaarder wees as die sand van die see; daarom is my woorde onbedagsaam.4 Want die pyle van die Almagtige is in my, waarvan my gees die gif indrink; die verskrikkinge van God stel hulle teen my op.5 Balk die wilde-esel by die grasspruitjies? Of bulk 'n bees by sy voer?6 Word iets wat laf is, sonder sout geëet? Of is daar smaak in die wit van 'n eier?7 My siel weier om dit aan te raak; dit is net soos my walglike spys.8 Ag, mag my bede maar uitkom, en mag God my verwagting maar gee!9 En mag dit God behaag om my te verpletter, sy hand uit te strek en my af te sny!10 Dan sou ek nog troos hê; ja, ek sou van vreugde opspring in onbarmhartige smart; want die woorde van die Heilige het ek nie verloën nie.11 Wat is my krag, dat ek sou kan wag; en wat my uiteinde, dat ek geduldig sou wees?12 Is my krag 'n krag van klip of my vlees van koper?13 Is ek dan nie hulpeloos in myself nie, en is redding nie vir my weggedrywe nie?14 Vir die moedelose moet daar liefde wees van die kant van sy vriend, ook al laat hy die vrees vir die Almagtige vaar.15 My broers het troueloos gehandel soos 'n spruit, soos die bedding van spruite wat wegloop,16 wat troebel is vanweë die ys, waarin die sneeu hom verberg --17 in die tyd van gloeihitte verdwyn hulle; as dit warm word, droog hulle op uit hul plek.18 Die paaie van hulle loop kronkelend weg en gaan heen in die wildernis en vergaan.19 Die karavane van Tema het uitgekyk, die reisigers van Skeba het daarop gewag.20 Hulle het beskaamd gestaan in hul vertroue; hulle het daarby gekom en was teleurgesteld.21 So het julle dan vir my niks geword nie: julle sien verskrikking, en julle het gevrees.22 Het ek dan gesê: Gee my iets? Of: Bring vir my 'n omkoopgeskenk uit julle vermoë?23 Of: Red my uit die hand van die teëstander? Of: Verlos my uit die hand van tiranne?24 Onderrig my, en ,k sal swyg; en maak my duidelik waarin ek my misgaan het.25 Hoe kragtig is opregte woorde, maar wat rig 'n bestraffing uit, van julle afkomstig?26 Dink julle om woorde te bestraf? Maar die woorde van 'n wanhopige is vir die wind!27 Ja, julle sou 'n wees uitloot en julle vriend verhandel.28 Maar nou, kyk my asseblief aan: ek sal julle waarlik nie in jul gesig belieg nie.29 Keer tog terug -- laat daar geen onreg wees nie! Ja, keer terug -- nog is my geregtigheid daar.30 Is daar onreg op my tong? Of kan my verhemelte nie die onheile onderskei nie?