English Standard Version

King James Bible

1Then Job answered and said:

1But Job answered and said,

2“Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

2Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

3For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.

3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

4For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

4For 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.

5Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?

5Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?

6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.

7The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

8“Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope,

8Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

9Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

10Then 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.

11What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?

11What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

12Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?

12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?

13Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

14“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

14To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away,

15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

16which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.

16Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

17When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.

17What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish.

18The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

19The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.

19The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

20They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed.

20They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

21For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid.

21For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

22Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?

22Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

23Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’?

23Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

24“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.

24Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

25How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?

25How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

26Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?

26Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

27You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend.

27Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

28“But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face.

28Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

29Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake.

29Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

30Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

30Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.