| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Then Job answered: | 1Then Job responded: |
| 2If only my grief could be weighed and my devastation placed with it in the scales. | 2"Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too! |
| 3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas! That is why my words are rash. | 3But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild. |
| 4Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks their poison. God's terrors are arrayed against me. | 4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison; God's sudden terrors 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 when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder? |
| 6Is bland food eaten without salt? Is there flavor in an egg white? | 6Can food that is 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. | 7I have refused to touch such things; 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 would be realized, and that God would grant me what I long for! |
| 9that He would decide to crush me, to unleash His power and cut me off! | 9And that God would be willing to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and kill me. |
| 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. | 10Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, for I have not concealed 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? | 11What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life? |
| 12Is my strength that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze? | 12Is my strength like that of stones? or is my flesh made of bronze? |
| 13Since I cannot help myself, the hope for success has been banished from me. | 13Is not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource been driven from me? |
| 14A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty. | 14"To the one in despair, kindness should come from his friend even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. |
| 15My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi, as seasonal streams that overflow | 15My brothers have been as treacherous as a seasonal stream, and as the riverbeds of the intermittent streams that flow away. |
| 16and become darkened because of ice, and the snow melts into them. | 16They are dark because of ice; snow is piled up over them. |
| 17The wadis evaporate in warm weather; they disappear from their channels in hot weather. | 17When they are scorched, they dry up, when it is hot, they vanish from their place. |
| 18Caravans turn away from their routes, go up into the desert, and perish. | 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish. |
| 19The caravans of Tema look for these streams. The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them. | 19The caravans of Tema looked intently for these streams; the traveling merchants of Sheba hoped for them. |
| 20They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water. When they arrive there, they are frustrated. | 20They were distressed, because each one had been so confident; they arrived there, but were disappointed. |
| 21So this is what you have now become to me. When you see something dreadful, you are afraid. | 21For now you have become like these streams that are no help; 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 ever said, 'Give me something, and from your fortune make gifts in my favor'? |
| 23or "Deliver me from the enemy's power" or "Redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless"? | 23Or 'Deliver me from the enemy's power, and from the hand of tyrants ransom me'? |
| 24Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand what I did wrong. | 24"Teach me and I, for my part, will be silent; explain to me how I have been mistaken. |
| 25How painful honest words can be! But what does your rebuke prove? | 25How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove? |
| 26Do you think that you can disprove my words or that a despairing man's words are mere wind? | 26Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind? |
| 27No doubt you would cast lots for a fatherless child and negotiate a price to sell your friend. | 27Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend. |
| 28But now, please look at me; would I lie to your face? | 28"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face! |
| 29Reconsider; don't be unjust. Reconsider; my righteousness is still the issue. | 29Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact! |
| 30Is there injustice on my tongue or can my palate not taste disaster? | 30Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things? |
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