¹Then Job answered ,

²“Oh that my anguish were weighed ,

and all my calamity laid in the balances !

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

therefore my words have been rash .

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me .

My spirit drinks up their poison .

The terrors of God set themselves in array against me .

⁵Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass ?

Or does the ox low over his fodder ?

⁶Can that which has no flavour be eaten without salt ?

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

⁷My soul refuses to touch them .

They are as loathsome food to me .

⁸“Oh that I might have my request ,

that God would grant the thing that I long for ,

⁹even that it would please God to crush me ;

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

¹⁰Let it still be my consolation ,

yes , let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare ,

that I have not denied the words of the Holy One .

¹¹What is my strength , that I should wait ?

What is my end , that I should be patient?

¹²Is my strength the strength of stones?

Or is my flesh of bronze ?

¹³Isn’t it that I have no help in me ,

that wisdom is driven away from me ?

¹⁴“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend ;

even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty .

¹⁵My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook ,

as the channel of brooks that pass away ;

¹⁶which are black by reason of the ice ,

in which the snow hides itself.

¹⁷In the dry season , they vanish .

When it is hot , they are consumed out of their place .

¹⁸The caravans that travel beside them turn away .

They go up into the waste , and perish.

¹⁹The caravans of Tema looked .

The companies of Sheba waited for them.

²⁰They were distressed because they were confident.

They came there , and were confounded .

²¹For now you are nothing .

You see a terror , and are afraid .

²²Did I ever say, ‘Give to me ’?

or , ‘Offer a present for me from your substance ’?

²³or , ‘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 .

Cause me to understand my error .

²⁵How forcible are words of uprightness !

But your reproof , what does it reprove ?

²⁶Do you intend to reprove words ,

since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind ?

²⁷Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless ,

and make merchandise of your friend .

²⁸Now therefore be pleased to look at me ,

for surely I will not lie to your face .

²⁹Please return .

Let there be no injustice .

Yes, return again .

My cause is righteous .

³⁰Is there injustice on my tongue ?

Can ’t my taste discern mischievous things ?