^1. THEN Job [1] answered,

^2. « Oh that my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my calamity!

^3. «For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; Therefore my words have been rash.

^4. «For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, [2] Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

^5. «Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his fodder?

^6. «Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the [3] white of an egg?

^7. «My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.

^8. «Oh that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my longing!

^9. «Would that God were willing to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

^10. «But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not [4] denied the words of the Holy One.

^11. «What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should [5] endure?

^12. «Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze?

^13. «Is it that my help is not within me, And that [6] deliverance is driven from me?

^14. «For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the [7] fear of the Almighty.

^15. «My brothers have acted deceitfully like a [9] wadi, Like the torrents of [8] wadis which vanish,

^16. Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow [10] melts.

^17. «When they become waterless, they [11] are silent, When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

^18. «The [12] paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish.

^19. «The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them.

^20. «They were [13] disappointed for they had trusted, They came there and were confounded.

^21. «Indeed, you have now become such, You see a terror and are afraid.

^22. «Have I said, "Give me something,' Or, "Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,'

^23. Or, "Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,' Or, "Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants'?

^24. «Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred.

^25. «How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

^26. «Do you intend to reprove my words, When the words of one in despair belong to the wind?

^27. «You would even cast lots for the orphans And barter over your friend. 28«Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face.

^29. «Desist now, let there be no injustice; Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it.

^30. «Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern [14] calamities?