Job sheweth that his complaints are not causeless.

1 ¶ But Jobº answeredºª and said,ºª 2 Oh thatº my griefº were throughly¹ª weighed,ºª and my calamityºª¹ laidºª in the balancesº together!º 3 For² now² it would be heavierºª than the sandº² of the sea:º therefore²² my wordsº are swallowed up.ºª 4 For² the arrowsº of the Almightyº [are] withinº me, the poisonº whereof² drinketh upºª my spirit:º the terrorsº of Godº do set themselves in array¹ª against² me. 5 Doth the wild assº brayºª when he hath grass?º or² lowethºª the oxº over² his fodder?º 6 Can that which is unsavouryº be eatenºª without²² salt?º or² is thereº [any] tasteº in the whiteº of an egg?º 7 The things² [that] my soulº refusedºª to touchºª [are] as my sorrowfulº meat.º

He wisheth for death, wherein he is assured of comfort.

8 Oh that² I might² haveºª my request;º and that Godº would grantºª [me] the thing that I long for!º 9 Even that it would pleaseºª Godº to destroyºª me; that he would let looseºª his hand,º and cut me off!ºª 10 Then should I yet² have² comfort;º yea, I would hardenºª myself in sorrow:º let him not² spare;ºª for² I have not² concealedºª the wordsº of the Holy One.º 11 What² [is] my strength,º that² I should hope?ºª and what² [is] mine end,º that² I should prolongºª my life?º 12 [Is] my strengthº the strengthº of stones?º or [is] my fleshº of brass?º 13 [Is] not² my helpº in me? and is wisdomº driven² quite¹ª from² me?

He reproveth his friends for their unkindness.

14 To him that is afflictedº pityº [should be shewed] from his friend;º² but he forsakethºª the fearº of the Almighty.º 15 My brethrenº have dealt deceitfullyºª as² a brook,º [and] as the streamº of brooksº they pass away;ºª 16 Which are blackishºª by reason of² the ice,º [and] wherein² the snowº is hid:ºª 17 What timeº they wax warm,ºª they vanish:ºª when it is hot,¹² they are consumed² out¹ª of their place.º² 18 The pathsº of their wayº are turned aside;ºª they goºª to nothing,º and perish.ºª 19 The troopsº of Temaº looked,ºª the companiesº of Shebaº waitedºª for² them. 20 They were confoundedºª because² they had hoped;ºª they cameºª thither,² and were ashamed.ºª 21 For² now² ye are² nothing;² ye seeºª [my] casting down,º and are afraid.ºª 22 Did² I say,ºª Bringºª unto me? or, Give a rewardºª for² me of your substance?º² 23 Or, Deliverºª me from the enemy's¹ hand?º²² or, Redeemºª me from the handº² of the mighty?º 24 Teachºª me, and I² will hold my tongue:ºª and cause me to understandºª wherein² I have erred.ºª 25 How² forcibleºª are rightº words!º but what² doth your arguingºª reprove?ºª² 26 Do ye imagineºª to reproveºª words,º and the speechesº of one that is desperate,ºª [which are] as wind?º 27 Yea,² ye overwhelmºª² the fatherless,º and ye digºª [a pit] for² your friend.º 28 Now² therefore be content,ºª lookºª upon me; for [it is] evident¹ unto²² you if² I lie.ºª 29 Return,ºª I pray you,² let it not² be² iniquity;º yea, return² again,¹ª² my righteousnessº [is] in it. 30 Is thereº iniquityº in my tongue?º cannot² my tasteº discernºª perverse things?º