| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Then Job answered and said: | 1Then Job replied: |
| 2“Oh, that my grief were fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales! | 2“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales. |
| 3For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea— Therefore my words have been rash. | 3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash. |
| 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 have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. |
| 5Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder? | 5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder? |
| 6Can flavorless food 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 white of an egg? |
| 7My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me. | 7My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me. |
| 8“Oh, that I might have my request, That God would grant me the thing that I long for! | 8If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope: |
| 9That it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off! | 9that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off! |
| 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. | 10It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied 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 strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient? |
| 12Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze? | 12Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze? |
| 13Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me? | 13Is there any help within me now that success is 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. | 14A despairing man should have the kindness of 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, | 15But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow, |
| 16Which are dark because of the ice, And into which the snow vanishes. | 16darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow, |
| 17When it is warm, they cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from their place. | 17but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat. |
| 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 look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it. |
| 20They are disappointed because they were confident; They come there and are confused. | 20They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment. |
| 21For now you are nothing, You see terror and are afraid. | 21For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid. |
| 22Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’? Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’? | 22Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth; |
| 23Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’? | 23deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’? |
| 24“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. | 24Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred. |
| 25How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove? | 25How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove? |
| 26Do you intend to rebuke my words, And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind? | 26Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair? |
| 27Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend. | 27You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend. |
| 28Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; For I would never lie to your face. | 28But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face? |
| 29Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands! | 29Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake. |
| 30Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory? | 30Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice? |
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