1Then Job replied:Then Job answered,But Job answered and said,Then Job answered and said,2“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.“Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash.For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore my words have been rash.For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words 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.For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.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.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.5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?6Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?7My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.My soul refuseth to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.8If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:“Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!9that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would 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.Let 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.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.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.11What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?12Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?13Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?14A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.15But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;16darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:Which are black by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself:17but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.What time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.The caravans that travel beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish.The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.19The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.20They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.21For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.For now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.22Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?23deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?Or, Deliver me from the adversary’s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?24Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.25How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?26Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?27You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.28But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.29Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.30Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
Berean Standard Bible (public domain).World English Bible (public domain).King James Version (public domain in the US).American Standard Version, 1901 (public domain).