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