¶ But Job answered¹ and said,

Oh that my grief were throughly² weighed, and my calamity laid³ in the balances together!

For now it would be heavier⁴ than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up⁵.

For the arrows⁶ of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up⁷ my spirit: the terrors⁸ of God do set themselves in array against me.

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass⁹? or loweth¹⁰ the ox over his fodder?

Can that which¹¹ is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste¹² in the white of an egg?

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat¹³.

¶ Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for¹⁴!

Even that it would¹⁵ please God to destroy me; that he would¹⁶ let loose his hand, and cut me off!

¶ Then¹⁷ should I yet have comfort; yea, I would¹⁸ harden myself in sorrow: let him not¹⁹ spare; for I have not concealed²⁰ the words of the Holy One²¹.

What²² is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass²³?

Is not my²⁴ help in me? and is wisdom²⁵ driven quite from me?

¶ To him²⁶ that is afflicted²⁷ pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

My brethren²⁸ have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream²⁹ of brooks they pass away;

Which are blackish³⁰ by reason of the ice³¹, and wherein the snow³² is hid³³:

What time they wax warm, they vanish³⁴: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

The paths³⁵ of their way are turned³⁶ aside; they go to nothing³⁷, and perish³⁸.

The troops of Tema³⁹ looked, the companies of Sheba⁴⁰ waited for them.

¶ They were confounded⁴¹ because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

For now ye are nothing;⁴² ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

¶ Did I say, Bring unto me?⁴⁴ or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem⁴⁵ me from the hand of the mighty?

Teach me,⁴⁶ and I will⁴⁷ hold my tongue: and cause me⁴⁸ to understand wherein I have erred.

How forcible⁴⁹ are right words! but what doth⁵⁰ your arguing reprove?

Do ye imagine to reprove⁵¹ words, and the speeches of one that⁵² is desperate, which are as wind⁵³?

Yea, ye overwhelm⁵⁴ the fatherless, and ye dig⁵⁵ a pit for your friend.

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you⁵⁶ if I lie.

Return⁵⁷, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness⁵⁸ is in it⁵⁹.

¶ Is there iniquity⁶⁰ in my tongue? cannot⁶¹ my taste⁶² discern perverse things?