| King James Bible | NET Bible |
| 1But Job answered and said, | 1Then Job responded: |
| 2Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! | 2"Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too! |
| 3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. | 3But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild. |
| 4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. | 4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison; God's sudden terrors are arrayed against me. |
| 5Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? | 5"Does the wild donkey bray when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder? |
| 6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? | 6Can food that is tasteless 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 sorrowful meat. | 7I have refused to touch such things; they are like loathsome food to me. |
| 8Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! | 8"Oh that my request would be realized, and that God would grant me what I long for! |
| 9Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! | 9And that God would be willing to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and kill me. |
| 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. | 10Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, 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? | 11What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life? |
| 12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass? | 12Is my strength like that of stones? or is my flesh made of bronze? |
| 13Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me? | 13Is not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource been driven from me? |
| 14To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. | 14"To the one in despair, kindness should come from his friend even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. |
| 15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; | 15My brothers have been as treacherous as a seasonal stream, and as the riverbeds of the intermittent streams that flow away. |
| 16Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: | 16They are dark because of ice; snow is piled up over them. |
| 17What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. | 17When they are scorched, they dry up, when it is hot, they vanish from their place. |
| 18The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. | 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish. |
| 19The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. | 19The caravans of Tema looked intently for these streams; the traveling merchants of Sheba hoped for them. |
| 20They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. | 20They were distressed, because each one had been so confident; they arrived there, but were disappointed. |
| 21For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. | 21For now you have become like these streams that are no help; you see a terror, and are afraid. |
| 22Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? | 22"Have I ever said, 'Give me something, and from your fortune make gifts in my favor'? |
| 23Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? | 23Or 'Deliver me from the enemy's power, and from the hand of tyrants ransom me'? |
| 24Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. | 24"Teach me and I, for my part, will be silent; explain to me how I have been mistaken. |
| 25How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? | 25How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove? |
| 26Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? | 26Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind? |
| 27Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. | 27Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend. |
| 28Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. | 28"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face! |
| 29Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. | 29Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact! |
| 30Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? | 30Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things? |
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