New King James Version

King James Bible

1Then Job answered and said:

1But Job answered and said,

2“Oh, that my grief were fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales!

2Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

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

3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

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

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.

5Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder?

5Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

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

7The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

8“Oh, that I might have my request, That God would grant me the thing that I long for!

8Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9That it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

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

10Then I would still have comfort; Though in anguish I would exult, He will not spare; For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

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.

11“What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

11What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

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

12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me?

13Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

14“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

14To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,

15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

16Which are dark because of the ice, And into which the snow vanishes.

16Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

17When it is warm, they cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

17What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18The paths of their way turn aside, They go nowhere and perish.

18The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

19The caravans of Tema look, The travelers of Sheba hope for them.

19The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

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

20They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

21For now you are nothing, You see terror and are afraid.

21For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

22Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’? Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?

22Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

23Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?

23Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

24“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

24Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

25How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove?

25How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

26Do you intend to rebuke my words, And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?

26Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

27Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend.

27Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

28Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; For I would never lie to your face.

28Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

29Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands!

29Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

30Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory?

30Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.