| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Then Job responded: | 1Then Job answered and said: |
| 2"Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too! | 2“Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! |
| 3But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild. | 3For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash. |
| 4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison; God's sudden terrors 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 when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder? | 5Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder? |
| 6Can food that is 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? |
| 7I have refused to touch such things; 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 would be realized, and that God would grant me what I long for! | 8“Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope, |
| 9And that God would be willing to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and kill me. | 9that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! |
| 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. | 10This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. |
| 11What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life? | 11What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? |
| 12Is my strength like that of stones? or is my flesh made of bronze? | 12Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? |
| 13Is not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource been driven from me? | 13Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? |
| 14"To the one in despair, kindness should come from his friend even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. | 14“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. |
| 15My brothers have been as treacherous as a seasonal stream, and as the riverbeds of the intermittent streams that flow away. | 15My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away, |
| 16They are dark because of ice; snow is piled up over them. | 16which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself. |
| 17When they are scorched, they dry up, when it is hot, they vanish from their place. | 17When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place. |
| 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish. | 18The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish. |
| 19The caravans of Tema looked intently for these streams; the traveling merchants of Sheba hoped for them. | 19The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope. |
| 20They were distressed, because each one had been so confident; they arrived there, but were disappointed. | 20They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed. |
| 21For now you have become like these streams that are no help; you see a terror, and are afraid. | 21For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid. |
| 22"Have I ever said, 'Give me something, and from your fortune make gifts in my favor'? | 22Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’? |
| 23Or 'Deliver me from the enemy's power, and from the hand of tyrants ransom me'? | 23Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’? |
| 24"Teach me and I, for my part, will be silent; explain to me how I have been mistaken. | 24“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. |
| 25How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove? | 25How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove? |
| 26Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind? | 26Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind? |
| 27Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend. | 27You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend. |
| 28"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face! | 28“But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face. |
| 29Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact! | 29Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake. |
| 30Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things? | 30Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity? |
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