King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 But Job answered and said,
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Iyov responded:
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
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"I wish my frustration could be weighed, all my calamities laid on the scales!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
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They would outweigh the sands of the seas! No wonder, then, that my words come out stammered!
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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For the arrows of Shaddai find their mark in me, and my spirit is drinking in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
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"Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass? Does an ox low when it has fodder?
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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Can food without flavor be eaten without salt? Do egg whites have any taste?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
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I refuse to touch them; such food makes me sick.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
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"If only I could have my wish granted, and God would give me what I'm hoping for -
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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that God would decide to crush me, that he would let his hand loose 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.
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Then I would feel consoled; so that even in the face of unending pain, I would be able to rejoice; for I have not denied 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?
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"Have I enough strength to go on waiting? What end can I expect, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
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Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh made of bronze?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
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Clearly, I have no help in myself; common sense has been driven from me.
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
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"A friend should be kind to an unhappy man, even to one who abandons Shaddai.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
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But my brothers are as deceptive as vadis, as vadi streams that soon run dry;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
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they may turn dark with ice and be hidden by piled-up snow;
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
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but as the weather warms up, they vanish; when it's hot, they disappear.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
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Their courses turn this way and that; they go up into the confusing waste and are lost.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
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The caravans from Tema look for them, the travelers from Sh'va hope to find them;
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
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but they are disappointed, because they were confident; on arrival there, they are frustrated.
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
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"For now, you have become like that -just seeing my calamity makes you afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
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Did I say to you, 'Give me something,'or, 'From your wealth, offer a bribe on my behalf,'
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
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or, 'Save me from the enemy's grip,'or, 'Redeem me from the clutches of oppressors'?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
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"Teach me, and I will be silent. Make me understand how I am at fault.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
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Honest words are forceful indeed, but what do your arguments prove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
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Do you think [your own] words constitute argument, while the speech of a desperate man is merely wind?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
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I suppose you would even throw dice for an orphan or barter away your friend!
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
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"So now, I beg you, look at me! Would I lie to your face?
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
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Think it over, please; don't let wrong be done. Think it over again: my cause is just.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
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Am I saying something wrong? Can't I recognize trouble when I taste it?