^[1]  Then Job answered and said,

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^[2]  Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!

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^[3]  For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.

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^[4]  For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

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^[5]  Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

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^[6]  Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

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^[7]  My soul refuseth to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.

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^[8]  Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grantmethe thing that I long for!

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^[9]  Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

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^[10]  And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

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^[11]  What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

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^[12]  Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

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^[13]  Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?

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^[14]  To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

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^[15]  My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;

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^[16]  Which are black by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself:

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^[17]  What time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

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^[18]  The caravansthat travelby the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.

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^[19]  The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.

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^[20]  They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.

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^[21]  For now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.

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^[22]  Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?

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^[23]  Or, Deliver me from the adversary’s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

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^[24]  Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

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^[25]  How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?

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^[26]  Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?

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^[27]  Yea, ye would castlotsupon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.

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^[28]  Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

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^[29]  Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

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^[30]  Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

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