Holman Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Then Job answered:

1Then Job answered,

2If only my grief could be weighed and my devastation placed with it in the scales.

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

3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas! That is why my words are rash.

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

4Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks their poison. God's terrors are arrayed against me.

4"For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass or an ox low over its fodder?

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

6Is bland food eaten without salt? Is there flavor in an egg white?

6"Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7I refuse to touch them; they are like contaminated food.

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

8If only my request would be granted and God would provide what I hope for:

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

9that He would decide to crush me, to unleash His power and cut me off!

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

10It would still bring me comfort, and I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

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

11What strength do I have that I should continue to hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?

11"What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure?

12Is my strength that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?

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

13Since I cannot help myself, the hope for success has been banished from me.

13"Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?

14A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.

14"For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

15My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi, as seasonal streams that overflow

15"My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,

16and become darkened because of ice, and the snow melts into them.

16Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow melts.

17The wadis evaporate in warm weather; they disappear from their channels in hot weather.

17"When they become waterless, they are silent, When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

18Caravans turn away from their routes, go up into the desert, and perish.

18"The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish.

19The caravans of Tema look for these streams. The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.

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

20They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water. When they arrive there, they are frustrated.

20"They were disappointed for they had trusted, They came there and were confounded.

21So this is what you have now become to me. When you see something dreadful, you are afraid.

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

22Have I ever said: "Give me something" or "Pay a bribe for me from your wealth"

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

23or "Deliver me from the enemy's power" or "Redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless"?

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

24Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand what I did wrong.

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

25How painful honest words can be! But what does your rebuke prove?

25"How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

26Do you think that you can disprove my words or that a despairing man's words are mere wind?

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

27No doubt you would cast lots for a fatherless child and negotiate a price to sell your friend.

27"You would even cast lots for the orphans And barter over your friend.

28But now, please look at me; would I lie to your face?

28"Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face.

29Reconsider; don't be unjust. Reconsider; my righteousness is still the issue.

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

30Is there injustice on my tongue or can my palate not taste disaster?

30"Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern calamities?

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org