New American Standard Bible 1995

English Standard Version

1Then Job answered,

1Then Job answered and said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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