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¹ And Job answers and says:² "O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, || And my calamity in balances || They would lift up together!³ For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, || Therefore my words have been rash.⁴ For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, || Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!⁵ Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?⁶ Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?⁷ My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.

⁸ O that my request may come, || That God may grant my hope!⁹ That God would please—and bruise me, || Loose His hand and cut me off!¹⁰ And yet it is my comfort || (And I exult in pain—He does not spare), || That I have not hidden || The sayings of the Holy One.¹¹ What [is] my power that I should hope? And what [is] my end that I should prolong my life?¹² Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?¹³ Is my help not with me, || And substance driven from me?

¹⁴ To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, || And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.¹⁵ My brothers have deceived as a brook, || As a stream of brooks they pass away.¹⁶ That are black because of ice, || By them snow hides itself.¹⁷ By the time they are warm they have been cut off, || By its being hot they have been || Extinguished from their place.¹⁸ The paths turn aside of their way, || They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.¹⁹ Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, || Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.²⁰ They were ashamed that one has trusted, || They have come to it and are confounded.²¹ Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.

²² Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?²³ And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?²⁴ Show me, and I keep silent, || And what I have erred, let me understand.²⁵ How powerful have been upright sayings, || And what reproof from you reproves?²⁶ For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?²⁷ You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, || And are strange to your friend.²⁸ And now, please, look on me, || Even to your face do I lie?²⁹ Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, || Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.³⁰ Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?"