| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Then Job responded: | 1Then Job replied: |
| 2"Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too! | 2"If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! |
| 3But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild. | 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; my spirit drinks their poison; God's sudden terrors are arrayed against me. | 4The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me. |
| 5"Does the wild donkey bray when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder? | 5Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder? |
| 6Can food that is tasteless 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? |
| 7I have refused to touch such things; they are like loathsome food to me. | 7I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill. |
| 8"Oh that my request would be realized, and that God would grant me what I long for! | 8"Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, |
| 9And that God would be willing to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and kill me. | 9that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life! |
| 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. | 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 wait? and what is my 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 like that of stones? or is my flesh made of bronze? | 12Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? |
| 13Is not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource been driven from me? | 13Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been 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"Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes 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. | 15But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow |
| 16They are dark because of ice; snow is piled up over them. | 16when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, |
| 17When they are scorched, they dry up, when it is hot, they vanish from their place. | 17but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels. |
| 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish. | 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish. |
| 19The caravans of Tema looked intently for these streams; the traveling merchants of Sheba hoped for them. | 19The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope. |
| 20They were distressed, because each one had been so confident; they arrived there, but were disappointed. | 20They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed. |
| 21For now you have become like these streams that are no help; you see a terror, and are afraid. | 21Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid. |
| 22"Have I ever said, 'Give me something, and from your fortune make gifts in my favor'? | 22Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth, |
| 23Or 'Deliver me from the enemy's power, and from the hand of tyrants ransom me'? | 23deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless'? |
| 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 quiet; show me where I have been wrong. |
| 25How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove? | 25How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove? |
| 26Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind? | 26Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind? |
| 27Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend. | 27You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend. |
| 28"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face! | 28"But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face? |
| 29Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact! | 29Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake. |
| 30Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things? | 30Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice? |
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