New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Then Job answered:
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And Job made answer and said,
2 "O that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
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If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!
3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.
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For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
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For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me.
5 Does the wild ass bray over its grass, or the ox low over its fodder?
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Does the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?
6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any flavor in the juice of mallows?
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Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?
7 My appetite refuses to touch them; they are like food that is loathsome to me.
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My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.
8 "O that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire;
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If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!
9 that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
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If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!
10 This would be my consolation; I would even exult in unrelenting pain; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
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So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?
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Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
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Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?
13 In truth I have no help in me, and any resource is driven from me.
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I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me.
14 "Those who withhold kindness from a friend forsake the fear of the Almighty.
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He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.
15 My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed, like freshets that pass away,
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My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:
16 that run dark with ice, turbid with melting snow.
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Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them;
17 In time of heat they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
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Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat.
18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste, and perish.
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The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction.
19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.
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The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:
20 They are disappointed because they were confident; they come there and are confounded.
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They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone.
21 Such you have now become to me; you see my calamity, and are afraid.
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So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.
22 Have I said, "Make me a gift'? Or, "From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?
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Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?
23 Or, "Save me from an opponent's hand'? Or, "Ransom me from the hand of oppressors'?
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Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?
24 "Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone wrong.
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Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.
25 How forceful are honest words! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
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How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?
26 Do you think that you can reprove words, as if the speech of the desperate were wind?
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My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.
27 You would even cast lots over the orphan, and bargain over your friend.
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Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.
28 "But now, be pleased to look at me; for I will not lie to your face.
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Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.
29 Turn, I pray, let no wrong be done. Turn now, my vindication is at stake.
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Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.
30 Is there any wrong on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern calamity?
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Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.