| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Then Job responded: | 1Then Job answered, |
| 2"Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too! | 2"Oh that my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my calamity! |
| 3But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild. | 3"For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; Therefore my words have been rash. |
| 4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison; God's sudden terrors are arrayed against me. | 4"For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me. |
| 5"Does the wild donkey bray when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder? | 5"Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his fodder? |
| 6Can food that is tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? | 6"Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? |
| 7I have refused to touch such things; they are like loathsome food to me. | 7"My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me. |
| 8"Oh that my request would be realized, and that God would grant me what I long for! | 8"Oh that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my longing! |
| 9And that God would be willing to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and kill me. | 9"Would that God were willing to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off! |
| 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. | 10"But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One. |
| 11What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life? | 11"What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure? |
| 12Is my strength like that of stones? or is my flesh made of bronze? | 12"Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze? |
| 13Is not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource been driven from me? | 13"Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me? |
| 14"To the one in despair, kindness should come from his friend even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. | 14"For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty. |
| 15My brothers have been as treacherous as a seasonal stream, and as the riverbeds of the intermittent streams that flow away. | 15"My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which vanish, |
| 16They are dark because of ice; snow is piled up over them. | 16Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow melts. |
| 17When they are scorched, they dry up, when it is hot, they vanish from their place. | 17"When they become waterless, they are silent, When it is hot, they vanish from their place. |
| 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish. | 18"The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish. |
| 19The caravans of Tema looked intently for these streams; the traveling merchants of Sheba hoped for them. | 19"The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them. |
| 20They were distressed, because each one had been so confident; they arrived there, but were disappointed. | 20"They were disappointed for they had trusted, They came there and were confounded. |
| 21For now you have become like these streams that are no help; you see a terror, and are afraid. | 21"Indeed, you have now become such, You see a terror and are afraid. |
| 22"Have I ever said, 'Give me something, and from your fortune make gifts in my favor'? | 22"Have I said, 'Give me something,' Or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,' |
| 23Or 'Deliver me from the enemy's power, and from the hand of tyrants ransom me'? | 23Or, 'Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,' Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants '? |
| 24"Teach me and I, for my part, will be silent; explain to me how I have been mistaken. | 24"Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred. |
| 25How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove? | 25"How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove? |
| 26Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind? | 26"Do you intend to reprove my words, When the words of one in despair belong to the wind? |
| 27Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend. | 27"You would even cast lots for the orphans And barter over your friend. |
| 28"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face! | 28"Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face. |
| 29Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact! | 29"Desist now, let there be no injustice; Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it. |
| 30Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things? | 30"Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern calamities? |
| NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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