¹Then Job answered and said,

²“If only my grief were thoroughly weighed

And my hardship were laid in the scales together with it.

³For now it is heavier than the sand of the sea,

Which is why my words are wild.

⁴For the Almighty's arrows are in me

– My spirit has to drink their payload;

The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

⁵Does the wild ass bray over grass,

Or does the ox low over its fodder?

⁶Is bland food eaten without salt,

Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁷I have no appetite for such things;

They are my uninviting food.

⁸If only my request might be considered,

And that God would grant my wish.

⁹If God were to be pleased to crush me,

To loosen his grip

And to cut me off,

¹⁰It would nevertheless be comfort to me,

And I would endure in writhing,

Which he would not spare,

For I have not concealed the holy one's words.

¹¹What strength do I have,

That I should have hope?

And what is my final condition,

That I should prolong my life?

¹²Is my strength the strength of stones?

Is my flesh brazen?

¹³Is it not the case that I have no help in my own resources?

– And that competence has been driven away from me?

¹⁴To him who is in low spirits,

Kindness is due from his friend,

Even if he has abandoned fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵But my brothers have acted treacherously

Like a torrent,

Then like torrent tributaries,

They vanished.

¹⁶They are inhospitable, because of ice,

And in them snow is hidden.

¹⁷When they are exposed to scorching conditions,

They vanish;

In the heat,

They dry up on the spot.

¹⁸Their course is brought to a standstill;

They evaporate and are lost.

¹⁹The travelling companies of Tema looked on;

The caravans of Sheba put hope in them,

²⁰But they were put to shame

For where each put his trust.

They arrived there

And were confounded.

²¹For now you are no comfort;

You see a terrible thing

And are afraid.

²²Did I say, ‘Give me support’?

Or, ‘Offer me some of your wealth’?

²³Or, ‘Deliver me from the clutches of adversity’?

Or, ‘Redeem me from the grip of fierce men’?

²⁴Teach me,

And I will be silent,

And cause me to understand

In what way I have erred.

²⁵How forcible words of uprightness are,

And how strongly reproving your reproof is!

²⁶Do you think you have reproved my words?

Or scattered to the wind the words of one in despair?

²⁷Indeed, you cast down orphans

And undermine your neighbour.

²⁸So now, be willing to turn to me,

And it will be evident to you

If I lie.

²⁹Reconsider, I pray,

Let there be no more injustice.

And reconsider also

Whether I am right about this.

³⁰Is there any injustice in my tongue?

Can my palate not discern perverse things?”