| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1But Job answered and said, | 1Then Job replied: |
| 2Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! | 2"If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! |
| 3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. | 3It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas-- no wonder my words have been impetuous. |
| 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. | 4The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me. |
| 5Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? | 5Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder? |
| 6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? | 6Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow? |
| 7The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat. | 7I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill. |
| 8Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! | 8"Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, |
| 9Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! | 9that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life! |
| 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 still have this consolation-- my joy in unrelenting pain-- that I had not denied 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? | 11"What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? |
| 12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass? | 12Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? |
| 13Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me? | 13Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has 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"Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. |
| 15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; | 15But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow |
| 16Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: | 16when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, |
| 17What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. | 17but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels. |
| 18The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. | 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish. |
| 19The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. | 19The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope. |
| 20They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. | 20They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed. |
| 21For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. | 21Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid. |
| 22Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? | 22Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth, |
| 23Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? | 23deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless'? |
| 24Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. | 24"Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong. |
| 25How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? | 25How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove? |
| 26Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? | 26Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind? |
| 27Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. | 27You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend. |
| 28Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. | 28"But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face? |
| 29Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. | 29Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake. |
| 30Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things? | 30Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice? |
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