1 But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid
in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea:
therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 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.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox
over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there
any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful
meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me
the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let
loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 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.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end,
that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of
brass?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his
friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the
stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow
is hid:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are
consumed out of their place.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing,
and perish.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for
them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came
thither, and were ashamed.
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are
afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your
substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the
hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to
understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing
reprove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that
is desperate, which are as wind?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your
friend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto
you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again,
my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern
perverse things?
|
