| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1But Job answered and said, | 1Then Job answered: |
| 2Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! | 2If only my grief could be weighed and my devastation placed with it in the scales. |
| 3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. | 3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas! That is why my words are rash. |
| 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. | 4Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks their poison. God's terrors are arrayed against me. |
| 5Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? | 5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass or an ox low over its fodder? |
| 6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? | 6Is bland food eaten without salt? Is there flavor in an egg white? |
| 7The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat. | 7I refuse to touch them; they are like contaminated food. |
| 8Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! | 8If only my request would be granted and God would provide what I hope for: |
| 9Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! | 9that He would decide to crush me, to unleash His power and cut me off! |
| 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. | 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. |
| 11What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? | 11What strength do I have that I should continue to hope? What is my future, that I should be patient? |
| 12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass? | 12Is my strength that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze? |
| 13Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me? | 13Since I cannot help myself, the hope for success has been banished from me. |
| 14To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. | 14A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty. |
| 15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; | 15My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi, as seasonal streams that overflow |
| 16Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: | 16and become darkened because of ice, and the snow melts into them. |
| 17What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. | 17The wadis evaporate in warm weather; they disappear from their channels in hot weather. |
| 18The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. | 18Caravans turn away from their routes, go up into the desert, and perish. |
| 19The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. | 19The caravans of Tema look for these streams. The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them. |
| 20They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. | 20They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water. When they arrive there, they are frustrated. |
| 21For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. | 21So this is what you have now become to me. When you see something dreadful, you are afraid. |
| 22Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? | 22Have I ever said: "Give me something" or "Pay a bribe for me from your wealth" |
| 23Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? | 23or "Deliver me from the enemy's power" or "Redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless"? |
| 24Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. | 24Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand what I did wrong. |
| 25How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? | 25How painful honest words can be! But what does your rebuke prove? |
| 26Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? | 26Do you think that you can disprove my words or that a despairing man's words are mere wind? |
| 27Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. | 27No doubt you would cast lots for a fatherless child and negotiate a price to sell your friend. |
| 28Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. | 28But now, please look at me; would I lie to your face? |
| 29Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. | 29Reconsider; don't be unjust. Reconsider; my righteousness is still the issue. |
| 30Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? | 30Is there injustice on my tongue or can my palate not taste disaster? |
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