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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? | |