| 1 | And Job made answer and said, |
| 2 | If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble! |
| 3 | For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled. |
| 4 | For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me. |
| 5 | Does the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food? |
| 6 | Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain? |
| 7 | My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food. |
| 8 | If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire! |
| 9 | If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off! |
| 10 | So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One. |
| 11 | Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to? |
| 12 | Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass? |
| 13 | I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me. |
| 14 | He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all. |
| 15 | My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end: |
| 16 | Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them; |
| 17 | Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat. |
| 18 | The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction. |
| 19 | The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them: |
| 20 | They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone. |
| 21 | So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear. |
| 22 | Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth? |
| 23 | Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones? |
| 24 | Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error. |
| 25 | How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments? |
| 26 | My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind. |
| 27 | Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend. |
| 28 | Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face. |
| 29 | Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me. |
| 30 | Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me? |
