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Job answered,
2 “If only my grief could be weighed,
and all my devastation placed with it on the scales!
3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
that is why my words have been rash.
4 The arrows of the Almighty are within me,
my spirit drinks in their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass,
or the ox bellow over its fodder?
6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
or is there any flavour in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them;
I can barely suffer such food.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
and that God would grant me what I long for,
9 that it would please God to crush me,
that He would let loose His hand and cut me off!
10 Then I would still have my consolation—
I could rejoice in unrelenting pain,
even though I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What strength do I have left, that I should continue to hope?
What are my prospects, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones,
or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is it that I have no power to help myself,
now that success has been driven from me?
14 “To the despairing man pity should be shown by his friends,
even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
15 But my brothers are as unreliable as a wadi,
as the seasonal streams that overflow,
16 which are darkened with ice,
and into which the snow melts.
17 But they vanish when the hot weather arrives,
and in the heat they disappear from their channels.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go into the wilderness and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look for water,
the traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
21 For now you have proven yourselves to be just as futile;
when you see something awful, you are afraid.
22 Have I ever said: ‘Give me a gift’?
or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
23 or, ‘Deliver me from the enemies hand’?
or, ‘Ransom me from the hand of the tyrant’?
24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;
help me understand where I have done wrong.
25 How painful honest words are!
But what does your argument prove?
26 Do you intend to correct my words,
as if the speech of a despairing man is only wind?
27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless,
and barter for your friend.
28 “But now, please look at me.
Would I lie to your face?
29 Relent, I beg of you, let no injustice be done;
reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
30 Is there any deceit on my tongue?
Can my palate not discern disaster?”