But Job answered and said,

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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?

Job Cries For Justice

Job responded and said:

“If only my grief could be weighed
    and my calamity placed on the scales.
For it outweighs the sands of the sea;
    that is why my words have been rash.
For the arrows of Shaddai are in me,
    my spirit drinks in their poison;
God’s terrors line up against me.
Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass
    or an ox bellow over his fodder?
Is something bland eaten without salt,
    is there taste in the white of an egg?
My soul refuses to touch them;
    they are like sickening food to me.

Oh that my request would be realized,
    that God would grant my hope;
that God would be willing to crush me,
    to release His hand, and cut me off!
10 Then I would still be comforted,
    even rejoice in spite of unrelenting pain,
for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 “What is my strength,
    that I should hope?
What is my end,
    that I should endure?
12 Is my strength the strength of rock?
    Is my flesh bronze?
13 Is there no help within me;
    has not success been banished from me?

14 “A despairing person should have the kindness of his friend,
    even if he forsakes the fear of Shaddai.
15 My brothers have acted deceptively,
    as a seasonal stream,
    as a torrential stream that overflows
16 when darkened by thawing ice,
    and obscured by snow,
17 but when they are scorched, they dry up,
    and in the heat, they vanish from their place.
18 Caravans turn aside from their course;
    they go up into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked intently,
    the travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They were distressed because they had been confident;
    they came so far and were disappointed.

21 “Indeed, now you have become nothing;
    you see a terror and are afraid.
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give to me’
    or ‘Pay a bribe for me from your wealth’
23 or ‘Save me from the enemy’s hand’
    or ‘Redeem me from a ruthless hand’?
24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;
    explain to me how I have been wrong.
25 Honest words are painful,
    but what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you intend to correct my words,
    and treat the words of
    a despairing man as wind?
27 Would you cast lots for an orphan,
    and barter over your friend?

28 “Now be so kind as to look at me;
    I will not lie to your face.
29 Relent, do not be unjust;
    reconsider, for my righteousness is in it.
30 Is injustice on my tongue?
    Can my palate not discern evil?”

Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

Then Job spoke again:

“If my misery could be weighed
    and my troubles be put on the scales,
they would outweigh all the sands of the sea.
    That is why I spoke impulsively.
For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows.
    Their poison infects my spirit.
    God’s terrors are lined up against me.
Don’t I have a right to complain?
    Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass,
    and oxen bellow when they have no food?
Don’t people complain about unsalted food?
    Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg?[a]
My appetite disappears when I look at it;
    I gag at the thought of eating it!

“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant my desire.
I wish he would crush me.
    I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.
10 At least I can take comfort in this:
    Despite the pain,
    I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 But I don’t have the strength to endure.
    I have nothing to live for.
12 Do I have the strength of a stone?
    Is my body made of bronze?
13 No, I am utterly helpless,
    without any chance of success.

14 “One should be kind to a fainting friend,
    but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.[b]
15 My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook
    that overflows its banks in the spring
16     when it is swollen with ice and melting snow.
17 But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears.
    The brook vanishes in the heat.
18 The caravans turn aside to be refreshed,
    but there is nothing to drink, so they die.
19 The caravans from Tema search for this water;
    the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
20 They count on it but are disappointed.
    When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.
21 You, too, have given no help.
    You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.
22 But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift?
    Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?
23 Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies,
    or to save me from ruthless people?
24 Teach me, and I will keep quiet.
    Show me what I have done wrong.
25 Honest words can be painful,
    but what do your criticisms amount to?
26 Do you think your words are convincing
    when you disregard my cry of desperation?
27 You would even send an orphan into slavery[c]
    or sell a friend.
28 Look at me!
    Would I lie to your face?
29 Stop assuming my guilt,
    for I have done no wrong.
30 Do you think I am lying?
    Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong?

Footnotes

  1. 6:6 Or the tasteless juice of the mallow plant?
  2. 6:14 Or friend, / or he might lose his fear of the Almighty.
  3. 6:27 Hebrew even gamble over an orphan.