1But Job answered and said:
2"Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words are swallowed up.
4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; the poison thereof drinketh up my spirit; the terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7The things that my soul refused to touch are as my distressing meat.
8"Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for:
9even that it would please God to destroy me, that He would let loose His hand and cut me off!
10Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow. Let Him not spare, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
13Is not my help in me? And is wisdom driven quite from me?
14"To him that is afflicted, pity should be shown by his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away,
16which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid.
17When in time they wax warm, they vanish; when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing and perish.
19The troops of Tema looked; the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither and were ashamed.
21For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down and are afraid.
22Did I say, `Bring unto me'? or, `Give a reward for me of your substance'?
23Or, `Deliver me from the enemy's hand'? or, `Redeem me from the hand of the mighty'?
24"Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25How forceful are right words! But what doth your arguing reprove?
26Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
28"Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
29Return, I pray you, let there be no iniquity; yea, return again; my righteousness is in it.
30Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern perverse things?