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- Then Job answered,
- "Oh that my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my calamity!
- "For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; Therefore my words have been rash.
- "For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, Their poison my spirit drinks; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.
- "Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his fodder?
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- "Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
- "My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.
- "Oh that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my longing!
- "Would that God were willing to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!
- "But it is still my consolation, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
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- "What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure?
- "Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze?
- "Is it that my help is not within me, And that deliverance is driven from me?
- "For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not forsake the fear of the Almighty.
- "My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which vanish,
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- Which are turbid because of ice And into which the snow melts.
- "When they become waterless, they are silent, When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
- "The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish.
- "The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
- "They were disappointed for they had trusted, They came there and were confounded.
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- "Indeed, you have now become such, You see a terror and are afraid.
- "Have I said, 'Give me something,' Or, 'Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,'
- Or, 'Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,' Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants'?
- "Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred.
- "How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
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- "Do you intend to reprove my words, When the words of one in despair belong to the wind?
- "You would even cast lots for the orphans And barter over your friend.
- "Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face.
- "Desist now, let there be no injustice; Even desist, my righteousness is yet in it.
- "Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern calamities?
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