New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 Then Job replied:
1
Job replied,
2 “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
2
"I wish my great pain could be weighed! I wish all of my suffering could be weighed on scales!
3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been impetuous.
3
I'm sure they would weigh more than the grains of sand on the seashore. No wonder I've been so quick to speak!
4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshaled against me.
4
The Mighty One has shot me with his arrows. I have to drink their poison. God's terrors are aimed at me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
5
Does a wild donkey cry out when it has enough grass? Does an ox call out when it has plenty of food?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow ?
6
Is food that doesn't have any taste eaten without salt? Is there any flavor in the white of an egg?
7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
7
I refuse to touch that kind of food. It makes me sick.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,
8
"I wish I could have what I'm asking for! I wish 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!
9
I wish he would crush me! I wish his powerful hand would cut off my life!
10 Then I would still have this consolation— my joy in unrelenting pain— that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
10
Then I'd still have one thing to comfort me. It would be that I haven't said no to the Holy One's commands. That would give me joy in spite of my pain that never ends.
11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?
11
"I'm so weak that I no longer have any hope. Things have gotten so bad that I can't wait for help anymore.
12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
12
Am I as strong as stone? Is my body made out of bronze?
13 Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
13
I don't have the power to help myself. All hope of success has been taken away from me.
14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
14
"A man's friends should love him when his hope is gone. They should be faithful to him even if he stops showing respect for the Mighty One.
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
15
But my friends aren't faithful to me. They are like streams that only flow for part of the year. They are like rivers that flow over their banks
16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
16
when the ice begins to break up. The streams rise when the snow starts to melt.
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
17
But they stop flowing when the dry season comes. They disappear from their stream beds when the weather warms up.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.
18
Groups of traders turn away from their usual paths. They go up into the dry and empty land. And they die there.
19 The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.
19
Traders from Tema look for water. Traveling merchants from Sheba also hope to find it.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
20
They become troubled because they had expected to find some. But when they arrive at the stream beds, they don't find any water at all.
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.
21
And now, my friends, you haven't helped me either. You see the horrible condition I'm in. And that makes you afraid.
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
22
I've never said, 'Give me something to help me. Use your wealth to set me free.
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?
23
Save me from the powerful hand of my enemy. Set me free from the power of mean people.'
24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
24
"Teach me. Then I'll be quiet. Show me what I've done wrong.
25 How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
25
Honest words are so painful! But your reasoning doesn't prove anything.
26 Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind?
26
Are you trying to correct what I'm saying? You are treating the words of this hopeless man like nothing but wind.
27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.
27
You would even cast lots for those whose fathers have died. You would even trade away your closest friend.
28 “But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face?
28
"But now please look at me. Would I tell you a lie right here in front of you?
29 Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
29
Stop what you are saying. Don't be so unfair. Think it over again. You are trying to take my honesty away from me.
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
30
Has my mouth spoken anything that is evil? Do my lips say things that are hateful?"
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.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.