1Then Job replied:
1And Job answered and said:
2“If only my grief could be weighed
and placed with my calamity on the scales.
2“If only my grief and my calamity could be weighed thoroughly, lifting it up together in the scales!
3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been rash.
3For now it is heavy, more than the sand of the sea; and upon thus my words have been rash.
4For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;
my spirit drinks in their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
4For the arrows of Shaddai are within me, whose poison my spirit is drinking in; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass,
or an ox low over its fodder?
5Does the wild donkey bray over its grass? Or the ox bellow over its fodder?
6Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the white of an egg?a
6Is the unsavory eaten without salt? Or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
7My soul refuses to touch them;
they are loathsome food to me.
7My soul refuses to touch them; they are are like disease in my food.
8If only my request were granted
and God would fulfill my hope:
8Who shall grant that my request would come? That God may grant my hope!
9that God would be willing to crush me,
to unleash His hand and cut me off!
9If God were willing to crush me, to let loose His hand and cut me off!
10It still brings me comfort,
and joy through unrelenting pain,
that I have not denied
the words of the Holy One.
10And yet this would be my comfort, and I would leap for joy in my anguish—he does not spare, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What is my future, that I should be patient?
11What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12Is my strength like that of stone,
or my flesh made of bronze?
12Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh made of bronze?
13Is there any help within me
now that success is driven from me?
13Is there no help for me in me, when success has been taken away from me?
14A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend,
even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
14To one despairing from his friends there should be kindness, and the fear of Shaddai he forsakes.
15But my brothers are as faithless as wadis,
as seasonal streams that overflow,
15My brothers are treacherous like a wadi, like a channel of wadis they pass away,
16darkened because of the ice
and the inflow of melting snow,
16those being darkened from the ice, upon which the snow hides itself.
17but ceasing in the dry season
and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
17In the time of burning heat they are cut off; in the heat they are extinguished from their place.
18Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go into the wasteland and perish.
18The caravans turn aside from their paths; they go up into the wasteland and perish.
19The caravans of Tema look for water;
the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
19The caravans of Tema look on; the travelers of Sheba hope for them.
20They are confounded because they had hoped;
their arrival brings disappointment.
20They are ashamed that they had trusted; they come unto her and are confounded.
21For now you are of no help;
you see terror, and you are afraid.
21For now you are nothing; you see terror, and you are afraid.
22Have I ever said, ‘Give me something;
offer me a bribe from your wealth;
22Is it that I said, ‘Give to me, or from your strength offer a bribe on my behalf?
23deliver me from the hand of the enemy;
redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’ ?
23Or Deliver me from the hand of the enemy, or ransom me from the hand of dreadful ones’?
24Teach me, and I will be silent.
Help me understand how I have erred.
24teach me, and I will be silent, and give understanding to me of how I have erred.
25How painful are honest words!
But what does your argument prove?
25How painful are upright words! Yet what does your argument prove?
26Do you intend to correct my words,
and treat as wind my cry of despair?
26Do you think to correct my words? And are the sayings of one despairing for wind?
27You would even cast lots for an orphan
and barter away your friend.
27Indeed, over the fatherless you make it fall, and you would trade away your friend.
28But now, please look at me.
Would I lie to your face?
28And now, may you be willing to turn toward me, or would I lie to your face?
29Reconsider; do not be unjust.
Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.
29Turn, please, let there not be injustice; and turn even now—my righteousness is in it.
30Is there iniquity on my tongue?
Can my mouth not discern malice?
30Is there injustice on my tongue? Can my palate not discern malice?