1And Job answers and says:

2“O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, || And my calamity in balances || They would lift up together!

3For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, || Therefore my words have been rash.

4For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, || Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!

5Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?

6Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?

7My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.

8O that my request may come, || That God may grant my hope!

9That God would please—and bruise me, || Loose His hand and cut me off!

10And yet it is my comfort || (And I exult in pain—He does not spare), || That I have not hidden || The sayings of the Holy One.

11What [is] my power that I should hope? And what [is] my end that I should prolong my life?

12Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?

13Is my help not with me, || And substance driven from me?

14To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, || And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.

15My brothers have deceived as a brook, || As a stream of brooks they pass away.

16That are black because of ice, || By them snow hides itself.

17By the time they are warm they have been cut off, || By its being hot they have been || Extinguished from their place.

18The paths turn aside of their way, || They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.

19Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, || Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.

20They were ashamed that one has trusted, || They have come to it and are confounded.

21Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.

22Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?

23And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?

24Show me, and I keep silent, || And what I have erred, let me understand.

25How powerful have been upright sayings, || And what reproof from you reproves?

26For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?

27You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, || And are strange to your friend.

28And now, please, look on me, || Even to your face do I lie?

29Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, || Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.

30Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”