| 1 ¶ But Job answered and said,
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| 2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid1 in the balances together!
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| 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words2 are swallowed up.
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| 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.
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| 5 Doth the3 wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
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| 6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
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| 7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
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| 8 ¶ Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing4 that I long for!
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| 9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
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| 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.
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| 11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
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| 12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass5?
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| 13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
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| 14 ¶ To him that is afflicted6 pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
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| 15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
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| 16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
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| 17 What time they wax warm, they vanish:7 when8 it is hot, they are consumed9 out of their place.
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| 18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
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| 19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
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| 20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
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| 21 For now ye are nothing;11 ye see my casting down, and are10 afraid.
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| 22 ¶ Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
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| 23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
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| 24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
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| 25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
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| 26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
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| 27 Yea, ye overwhelm12 the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
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| 28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident13 unto you if I lie.
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| 29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.14
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| 30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste15 discern perverse things?
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