| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 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 anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! |
| 3For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea— Therefore my words have been rash. | 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 in their poison; The terrors of God 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. |
| 5Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder? | 5Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has 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 sap of the mallow? |
| 7My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me. | 7I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill. |
| 8“Oh, that I might have my request, 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, |
| 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 let loose his hand and cut off my life! |
| 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 still have this consolation-- my joy in unrelenting pain-- that I had 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? | 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 bronze? | 12Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? |
| 13Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me? | 13Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has 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"Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend 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 undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow |
| 16Which are dark because of the ice, And into which the snow vanishes. | 16when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, |
| 17When it is warm, they cease to flow; 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. |
| 18The paths of their way turn aside, They go nowhere and perish. | 18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off 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 traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope. |
| 20They are disappointed because they were confident; They come there and are confused. | 20They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed. |
| 21For now you are nothing, You see terror and are afraid. | 21Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid. |
| 22Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’? Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’? | 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 oppressors’? | 23deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless'? |
| 24“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred. | 24"Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong. |
| 25How forceful are right words! But what does your arguing prove? | 25How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove? |
| 26Do you intend to rebuke my words, And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind? | 26Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind? |
| 27Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend. | 27You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend. |
| 28Now therefore, be pleased to look at me; For I would never lie to your face. | 28"But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face? |
| 29Yield now, let there be no injustice! Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands! | 29Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake. |
| 30Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern the unsavory? | 30Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice? |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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