|
- Then Job replied:
- "If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
- It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas-- no wonder my words have been impetuous.
- The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me.
- Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
|
- 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?
|
- Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg ?
- I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
- "Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,
- that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off!
- Then I would still have this consolation-- my joy in unrelenting pain-- that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
|
- "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.
|
- "What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?
- Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
- Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
- "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
- But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
|
- "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,
|
- when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
- but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
- Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go up into the wasteland and perish.
- The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.
- They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
|
- 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.
|
- Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.
- Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
- deliver me from the hand of the enemy, ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless'?
- "Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
- How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
|
- "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?
|
- Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?
- You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.
- "But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face?
- Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
- Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
|
- "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?
|
|
|