1 | But Job answered and said, |
2 | Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! |
3 | For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. |
4 | 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 | Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? |
6 | Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? |
7 | The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat. |
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 destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! |
10 | 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 | What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? |
12 | Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass? |
13 | Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me? |
14 | To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. |
15 | 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 | 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 | The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. |
20 | They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. |
21 | For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. |
22 | Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? |
23 | Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? |
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 arguing reprove? |
26 | Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? |
27 | Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. |
28 | Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. |
29 | Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. |
30 | Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? |