Then Job responded and said:

But Job answered and said,

If only my grief could be weighed and my calamity placed together on the scales!

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

For now, it is heavier than the sands of the seas; that is why my words are impulsive.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison. The terrors of God are arrayed 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.

Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass? Or does an ox low over its fodder?

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Can something tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any flavor 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?

My soul refuses to touch them; they are like loathsome food to me.

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

Oh, that my request would be granted, and that God would fulfill my hope.

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

That God would be willing to crush me, to 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!

It would still be my comfort— I would even exult in the midst of unrelenting pain— for 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.

What is my strength, that I should hope? What is my end, that I should prolong my life?

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh made of bronze?

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

Indeed, there is no help in me, and ability has been driven from me.

Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

To him who is despairing, kindness should come from his friend, or he will forsake 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.

My brothers have acted deceitfully, like a wadi, like streams that flow away.

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

Streams dark with ice, where the snow conceals itself,

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

but when they are warmed, they vanish; when heated, they disappear from their place.

What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

Caravans turn aside from their paths; they go into the wasteland and perish.

The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

The caravans of Tema look for them, the travelers of Sheba expect them.

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

They are ashamed because they trusted; they arrive there and are disappointed.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

For now you have become like nothing to him; you see terror and are afraid.

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

Have I said, ‘Give to me,’ or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

Or, ‘Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,’ or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’?

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

Teach me, and I will be silent; help me understand where I have gone astray.

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove?

How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

Do you intend to rebuke my words and treat the words of a despairing man as mere wind?

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

You would even cast lots over the fatherless and barter away your friend.

Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

But now, please look at me; would I lie to your face?

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

Relent, let there be no injustice; yes, relent, my righteousness still stands.

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

Is there injustice on my tongue? Can my palate not discern disaster?

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?