New International Version NIV
Common English Bible CEB
1 Then Job replied:
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Job responded:
2 “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
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Oh, that my grief were actually weighed, all of it were lifted up in scales;
3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been impetuous.
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for now it's heavier than the sands of the sea; therefore, my words are rash.
4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshaled against me.
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The Almighty's arrows are in me; my spirit drinks their poison, and God's terrors are arrayed against me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
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Does a donkey bray over grass or an ox bellow over its fodder?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow ?
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Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or does egg white have taste?
7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
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I refuse to touch them; they resemble food for the sick.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,
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Oh, that what I've requested would come and God grant my hope;
9 that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life!
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that God be willing to crush me, release his hand and cut me off.
10 Then I would still have this consolation— my joy in unrelenting pain— that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
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I'd still take comfort, relieved even though in persistent pain; for I've not denied the words of the holy one.
11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?
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What is my strength, that I should hope; my end, that my life should drag on?
12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
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Is my strength that of rocks, my flesh bronze?
13 Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
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I don't have a helper for myself; success has been taken from me.
14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
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Are friends loyal to the one who despairs, or do they stop fearing the Almighty?
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
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My companions are treacherous like a stream in the desert, like channels that overrun their streambeds,
16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
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like those darkened by thawing ice, in which snow is obscured
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
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but that stop flowing in dry times and vanish from their channels in heat.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.
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Caravans turn aside from their paths; they go up into untamed areas and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.
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Caravans from Tema look; merchants from Sheba hope for it.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
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They are ashamed that they trusted; they arrive and are dismayed.
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.
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That's what you are like; you see something awful and are afraid.
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
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Have I said, "Give me something? Offer a bribe from your wealth for me?
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?
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Rescue me from the hand of my enemy? Ransom me from the grip of the ruthless?"
24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
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Instruct me and I'll be quiet; inform me how I've erred.
25 How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
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How painful are truthful words, but what do your condemnations accomplish?
26 Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind?
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Do you intend to correct my words, to treat the words of a hopeless man as wind?
27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.
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Would you even gamble over an orphan, barter away your friend?
28 “But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face?
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Now look at me— would I lie to your face?
29 Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
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Turn! Don't be faithless. Turn now! I am righteous.
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
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Is there wrong on my tongue, or can my mouth not recognize disaster?
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible