¹ Then Job answered and said,

² O that my grief were but weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

³ For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. Therefore my words have been rash.

⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which my spirit drinks up. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

⁵ Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or the ox moo over his fodder?

⁶ Can that which has no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁷ My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.

⁸ O that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

⁹ Even that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

¹⁰ And be it still my consolation, yea, let me exult (in pain that does not spare), that I have not denied 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?

¹² Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

¹³ Is it not that I have no help in me, and that wisdom is driven quite from me?

¹⁴ To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be from his friend, even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away,

¹⁶ which are black because of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

¹⁷ What time they grow warm, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

¹⁸ The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.

¹⁹ The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

²⁰ They were put to shame because they had hoped. They came there, and were confounded.

²¹ For now ye are nothing. Ye see a terror, and are afraid.

²² Did I say, Give to me? Or, Offer a present for me from your substance?

²³ Or, Deliver me from the adversary's hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

²⁴ Teach me, and I will be quiet. And cause me to understand how I have erred.

²⁵ How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

²⁶ Do ye think to reprove words, seeing that the speeches of a man who is desperate are as wind?

²⁷ Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

²⁸ Now therefore be pleased to look upon me, for truly I shall not lie to your face.

²⁹ Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice. Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

³⁰ Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?