New American Standard Bible 1995

New Living Translation

1Then Job answered,

1Then Job spoke again:

2"Oh that my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my calamity!

2“If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales,

3"For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; Therefore my words have been rash.

3they would outweigh all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke impulsively.

4"For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

4For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God’s terrors are lined up against me.

5"Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his fodder?

5Don’t I have a right to complain? Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass, and oxen bellow when they have no food?

6"Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

6Don’t people complain about unsalted food? Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg?

7"My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.

7My appetite disappears when I look at it; I gag at the thought of eating it!

8"Oh that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my longing!

8“Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire.

9"Would that God were willing to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!

9I wish he would crush me. I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.

10"But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

10At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11"What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure?

11But I don’t have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for.

12"Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze?

12Do I have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze?

13"Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?

13No, I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success.

14"For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.

14“One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.

15"My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,

15My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring

16Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow melts.

16when it is swollen with ice and melting snow.

17"When they become waterless, they are silent, When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

17But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat.

18"The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish.

18The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing to drink, so they die.

19"The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them.

19The caravans from Tema search for this water; the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.

20"They were disappointed for they had trusted, They came there and were confounded.

20They count on it but are disappointed. When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.

21"Indeed, you have now become such, You see a terror and are afraid.

21You, too, have given no help. You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.

22"Have I said, 'Give me something,' Or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,'

22But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift? Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?

23Or, 'Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,' Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants '?

23Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies, or to save me from ruthless people?

24"Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred.

24Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong.

25"How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

25Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to?

26"Do you intend to reprove my words, When the words of one in despair belong to the wind?

26Do you think your words are convincing when you disregard my cry of desperation?

27"You would even cast lots for the orphans And barter over your friend.

27You would even send an orphan into slavery or sell a friend.

28"Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face.

28Look at me! Would I lie to your face?

29"Desist now, let there be no injustice; Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it.

29Stop assuming my guilt, for I have done no wrong.

30"Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern calamities?

30Do you think I am lying? Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong?

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.