| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then Job answered and said: | 1Then Job responded: |
| 2“Oh, that my grief were fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales! | 2"Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too! |
| 3For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea— Therefore my words have been rash. | 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; My spirit drinks in their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me. | 4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison; God's sudden terrors are arrayed against me. |
| 5Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder? | 5"Does the wild donkey bray when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder? |
| 6Can flavorless food 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? |
| 7My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me. | 7I have refused to touch such things; they are like loathsome food to me. |
| 8“Oh, that I might have my request, 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! |
| 9That it would please God to crush me, That He would 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 I would still have comfort; Though in anguish I would exult, He will 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. |
| 11“What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my 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 bronze? | 12Is my strength like that of stones? or is my flesh made of bronze? |
| 13Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me? | 13Is not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource been driven from me? |
| 14“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes 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 brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, Like the streams of the brooks that 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 dark because of the ice, And into which the snow vanishes. | 16They are dark because of ice; snow is piled up over them. |
| 17When it is warm, they cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from their place. | 17When they are scorched, they dry up, when it is hot, they vanish from their place. |
| 18The paths of their way turn aside, They go nowhere and perish. | 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish. |
| 19The caravans of Tema look, The travelers of Sheba hope for them. | 19The caravans of Tema looked intently for these streams; the traveling merchants of Sheba hoped for them. |
| 20They are disappointed because they were confident; They come there and are confused. | 20They were distressed, because each one had been so confident; they arrived there, but were disappointed. |
| 21For now you are nothing, You see terror and are afraid. | 21For now you have become like these streams that are no help; you see a terror, and are afraid. |
| 22Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’? Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’? | 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 oppressors’? | 23Or 'Deliver me from the enemy's power, and from the hand of tyrants ransom me'? |
| 24“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; 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 forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove? | 25How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove? |
| 26Do you intend to rebuke my words, And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind? | 26Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind? |
| 27Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend. | 27Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend. |
| 28Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; For I would never lie to your face. | 28"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face! |
| 29Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands! | 29Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact! |
| 30Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory? | 30Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things? |
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