Job answers Eliphaz
Then Job answered: "If only my grief could be weighed and all my misery put on the scales with it. It would outweigh the sand of the sea. That's why my words have been wild. The arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison. The terrors of God are lined up against me. Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, or the ox low when it has feed? Can tasteless food be eaten without salt? Is there any flavour in the white of an egg? The things I once refused to touch are now my miserable food. If only I could have what I ask for, and God would grant the thing I long for: that God would be willing to crush me, let loose his hand and cut me off. Then I would still have this comfort — even in relentless pain I would rejoice — that I have not hidden the words of the Holy One. What strength do I have left that I should keep hoping? What future is there that I should drag this out? Is my strength the strength of stone? Is my flesh made of bronze? Isn't my help gone from me? Has wisdom been driven away from me? A man who is worn out deserves kindness from his friend, even if he has abandoned the fear of the Almighty. But my brothers have been as unreliable as a seasonal creek, like streams that disappear. The streams are dark because of the ice, and the snow is hidden in them. When they grow warm they vanish; when it is hot they disappear from their place. The paths of their way turn aside; they go nowhere and perish. The caravans of Tema looked for them; the companies of Sheba waited for them. They were ashamed because they had hoped; when they arrived, they were bitterly disappointed. Now that's what you've become to me. You see something dreadful and you're frightened. Did I ever say, 'Give me something,' or, 'Pay a bribe for me out of your wealth'? Or did I say, 'Deliver me from the enemy's hand,' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the mighty'? Teach me, and I'll keep quiet. Show me where I've gone wrong. How forceful honest words can be. But what exactly does your arguing prove? Do you mean to correct mere words and treat the speech of a desperate man as wind? You would even cast lots over orphans and dig a pit for your friend. Now, please, look at me. I won't lie to your face. Think again. Don't be unjust. Think again — my righteousness is still in this matter. Is there wrongdoing on my tongue? Can't I tell the difference between right and wrong?"
But Job answered: If only my grief were weighed properly, and my trouble laid in the scales together. Because now it'd be heavier than the sand of the sea. That's why my words are swallowed up. Because the arrows of the Almighty are in me, and their poison drinks up my spirit. The terrors of God set themselves in a line against me. Does the wild donkey bray when he's got grass? Or does the ox low over his feed? Can what's tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? The things my soul wouldn't touch are like my food when I'm sick. Oh, that I could have what I ask for, and that God would give me the thing I long for — that it'd please God to crush me, that he'd let his hand loose and cut me off. Then I'd still have comfort. Yes, I'd harden myself in sorrow. Don't let him spare, because I haven't hidden the words of the Holy One. What's my strength, that I should hope? And what's my end, that I should hold on? Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze? Isn't my help in me? And is wisdom driven right away from me? The one who's worn out should have pity from his mate. But he leaves off the fear of the Almighty. My brothers have dealt falsely like a brook, like the stream of brooks that goes by — that goes dark because of the ice, that the snow hides itself in. When they get warm, they go. When it's hot, they're gone out of their place. The paths of their way turn aside. They go off into nothing and are lost. The caravans of Tema looked. The travelling companies of Sheba waited for them. They were ashamed because they'd hoped. They came there and were let down. Because now you're nothing. You see me thrown down, and you're frightened. Did I say: Bring me something? Or: Give me a reward from what you've got? Or: Rescue me from the enemy's hand? Or: Buy me back from the hand of the mighty? Teach me, and I'll hold my tongue. And make me understand where I've gone wrong. How strong straight words are. But what does your arguing prove? Do you think you can prove words wrong, and the speeches of a man in despair, that are like wind? Yes, you'd cast lots for the orphan and dig a pit for your mate. So be pleased to look at me now, because it's plain in your faces if I lie. Turn back, please. Don't let it be wrong. Yes, turn back again — my righteousness is in it. Is there wrong in my tongue? Can't my taste tell what's twisted?
But Job answered and said, Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat. Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. What 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 brass? Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me? To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
Then Job answered:
But Job answered:
But Job answered and said,
"If only my grief could be weighed and all my misery put on the scales with it.
If only my grief were weighed properly, and my trouble laid in the scales together.
Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
It would outweigh the sand of the sea. That's why my words have been wild.
Because now it'd be heavier than the sand of the sea. That's why my words are swallowed up.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
The arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison. The terrors of God are lined up against me.
Because the arrows of the Almighty are in me, and their poison drinks up my spirit. The terrors of God set themselves in a line against me.
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, or the ox low when it has feed?
Does the wild donkey bray when he's got grass? Or does the ox low over his feed?
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
Can tasteless food be eaten without salt? Is there any flavour in the white of an egg?
Can what's tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
The things I once refused to touch are now my miserable food.
The things my soul wouldn't touch are like my food when I'm sick.
The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
If only I could have what I ask for, and God would grant the thing I long for:
Oh, that I could have what I ask for, and that God would give me the thing I long for —
Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
that God would be willing to crush me, let loose his hand and cut me off.
that it'd please God to crush me, that he'd let his hand loose and cut me off.
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
Then I would still have this comfort — even in relentless pain I would rejoice — that I have not hidden the words of the Holy One.
Then I'd still have comfort. Yes, I'd harden myself in sorrow. Don't let him spare, because I haven't hidden the words of the Holy One.
Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
What strength do I have left that I should keep hoping? What future is there that I should drag this out?
What's my strength, that I should hope? And what's my end, that I should hold on?
What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
Is my strength the strength of stone? Is my flesh made of bronze?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze?
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
Isn't my help gone from me? Has wisdom been driven away from me?
Isn't my help in me? And is wisdom driven right away from me?
Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
A man who is worn out deserves kindness from his friend, even if he has abandoned the fear of the Almighty.
The one who's worn out should have pity from his mate. But he leaves off the fear of the Almighty.
To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
But my brothers have been as unreliable as a seasonal creek, like streams that disappear.
My brothers have dealt falsely like a brook, like the stream of brooks that goes by —
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
The streams are dark because of the ice, and the snow is hidden in them.
that goes dark because of the ice, that the snow hides itself in.
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
When they grow warm they vanish; when it is hot they disappear from their place.
When they get warm, they go. When it's hot, they're gone out of their place.
What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
The paths of their way turn aside; they go nowhere and perish.
The paths of their way turn aside. They go off into nothing and are lost.
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
The caravans of Tema looked for them; the companies of Sheba waited for them.
The caravans of Tema looked. The travelling companies of Sheba waited for them.
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
They were ashamed because they had hoped; when they arrived, they were bitterly disappointed.
They were ashamed because they'd hoped. They came there and were let down.
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
Now that's what you've become to me. You see something dreadful and you're frightened.
Because now you're nothing. You see me thrown down, and you're frightened.
For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
Did I ever say, 'Give me something,' or, 'Pay a bribe for me out of your wealth'?
Did I say: Bring me something? Or: Give me a reward from what you've got?
Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
Or did I say, 'Deliver me from the enemy's hand,' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the mighty'?
Or: Rescue me from the enemy's hand? Or: Buy me back from the hand of the mighty?
Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
Teach me, and I'll keep quiet. Show me where I've gone wrong.
Teach me, and I'll hold my tongue. And make me understand where I've gone wrong.
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
How forceful honest words can be. But what exactly does your arguing prove?
How strong straight words are. But what does your arguing prove?
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
Do you mean to correct mere words and treat the speech of a desperate man as wind?
Do you think you can prove words wrong, and the speeches of a man in despair, that are like wind?
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
You would even cast lots over orphans and dig a pit for your friend.
Yes, you'd cast lots for the orphan and dig a pit for your mate.
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
Now, please, look at me. I won't lie to your face.
So be pleased to look at me now, because it's plain in your faces if I lie.
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
Think again. Don't be unjust. Think again — my righteousness is still in this matter.
Turn back, please. Don't let it be wrong. Yes, turn back again — my righteousness is in it.
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
Is there wrongdoing on my tongue? Can't I tell the difference between right and wrong?"
Is there wrong in my tongue? Can't my taste tell what's twisted?
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?