New International Version NIV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Then Job replied:
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Iyov responded:
2 “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
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"I wish my frustration could be weighed, all my calamities laid on the scales!
3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been impetuous.
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They would outweigh the sands of the seas! No wonder, then, that my words come out stammered!
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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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 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
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"Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass? Does an ox low when it has fodder?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow ?
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Can food without flavor be eaten without salt? Do egg whites have any taste?
7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
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I refuse to touch them; such food makes me sick.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,
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"If only I could have my wish granted, and God would give me what I'm hoping for -
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 would decide to crush me, that he would let his hand loose 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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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 strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?
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"Have I enough strength to go on waiting? What end can I expect, that I should be patient?
12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
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Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh made of bronze?
13 Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
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Clearly, I have no help in myself; common sense has been driven from me.
14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes 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 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
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But my brothers are as deceptive as vadis, as vadi streams that soon run dry;
16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
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they may turn dark with ice and be hidden by piled-up snow;
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
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but as the weather warms up, they vanish; when it's hot, they disappear.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland 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 caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.
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The caravans from Tema look for them, the travelers from Sh'va hope to find them;
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
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but they are disappointed, because they were confident; on arrival there, they are frustrated.
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.
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"For now, you have become like that -just seeing my calamity makes you afraid.
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
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Did I say to you, 'Give me something,'or, 'From your wealth, offer a bribe on my behalf,'
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?
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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 be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
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"Teach me, and I will be silent. Make me understand how I am at fault.
25 How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
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Honest words are forceful indeed, but what do your arguments prove?
26 Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words 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 You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.
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I suppose you would even throw dice for an orphan or 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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"So now, I beg you, 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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Think it over, please; don't let wrong be done. Think it over again: my cause is just.
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
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Am I saying something wrong? Can't I recognize trouble when I taste it?
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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.