1 | But Job answered and said,
|
2 | Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the
balances together!
|
3 | For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words
are swallowed up.
|
4 | For 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.
|
5 | Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his
fodder?
|
6 | Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste
in the white of an egg?
|
7 | The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
|
8 | Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing
that I long for!
|
9 | Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his
hand, and cut me off!
|
10 | Then 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 is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I
should prolong my life?
|
12 | Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
|
13 | Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
|
14 | To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he
forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
|
15 | My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of
brooks they pass away;
|
16 | Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
|
17 | What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed
out of their place.
|
18 | The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
|
19 | The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
|
20 | They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were
ashamed.
|
21 | For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
|
22 | Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
|
23 | Or, 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: and cause me to understand wherein I
have erred.
|
25 | How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
|
26 | Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate,
which are as wind?
|
27 | Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
|
28 | Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I
lie.
|
29 | Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my
righteousness is in it.
|
30 | Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
|