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 anytaste 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?

12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13Is 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?

But Iob answered, and sayd,

2Oh that my griefe were throughly weighed, and my calamitie layd in the balances together.

3For now it would be heauier then the sand of the sea, therefore my words are swallowed vp.

4For the arrowes of the Almightie are within me, the poyson whereof drinketh vp my spirit: the terrors of God doe set themselues in aray against mee.

5Doeth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe ouer his fodder?

6Can that which is vnsauery, bee eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge?

7The things that my soule refused to touch, are as my sorrowfull meat.

8O that I might haue my request! and that God would graunt mee the thing that I long for!

9Euen that it would please God to destroy mee, that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off.

10Then should I yet haue comfort, yea I would harden my selfe in sorrow; let him not spare, for I haue not concealed the words of the holy One.

11What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine ende, that I should prolong my life?

12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brasse?

13Is not my helpe in me? and is wisedome driuen quite from me?

14To him that is afflicted, pitie should be shewed from his friend; But he forsaketh the feare of the Almighty.

15My brethren haue delt deceitfully as a brooke, & as the streame of brookes they passe away,

16Which are blackish by reason of the yce, and wherein the snow is hid:

17What time they waxe warme, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18The pathes of their way are turned aside; they goe to nothing, and perish.

19The troupes 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 downe, and are afraid.

22Did I say, Bring vnto mee? or giue a reward for me of your substance?

23Or deliuer me from the enemies hand, or redeeme me from the hand of the mighty?

24Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause mee to vnderstand wherein I haue erred.

25How forcible are right wordes? but what doeth your arguing reproue?

26Do ye imagine to reproue words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as winde?

27Yea, ye ouerwhelme the fatherlesse, and you digge a pit for your friend.

28Now therefore be content, looke vpon mee, for it is euident vnto you, if I lie.

29Returne, I pray you, let it not be iniquitie; yea returne againe: my righteousnesse is in it.

30Is there iniquitie in my tongue? cannot my taste discerne peruerse things?

 

 

 

III == Ps 77:4 ; Prov 27:3

 

IV == Ps 38:2 ; 88:15-16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == 1st Kings 19:4

 

X == Lev 19:2 ; Isa 57:15 ; Hos 11:9 ; Acts 20:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIV ==Prov 17:17

 

 

XV == Ps 38:11 ; 41:9 ; Jer 15:18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == Gen 25:15 ; 1st Kings 10:1 ; Ps 72:10 ; Ezek 27:22-23

XX == Jer 14:3

 

XXI == Job 13:4 ; Ps 38:11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == Ps 57:6

 

 

 

XXIX == Job 17:10

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 Ah, could my anguish but be measured and my calamity laid with it in the scales,

3 They would now outweigh the sands of the sea! Because of this I speak without restraint.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty pierce me, and my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

5 Does the wild ass bray when he has grass? Does the ox low over his fodder?

6 Can a thing insipid be eaten without salt? Is there flavor in the white of an egg?

7 I refuse to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.

8 Oh, that I might have my request, and that God would grant what I long for:

9 Even that God would decide to crush me, that he would put forth his hand and cut me off!

10 Then I should still have consolation and could exult through unremitting pain, because I have not transgressed the commands of the Holy One.

11 What strength have I that I should endure, and what is my limit that I should be patient?

12 Have I the strength of stones, or is my flesh of bronze?

13 Have I no helper, and has advice deserted me?

14 A friend owes kindness to one in despair, though he have forsaken the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren are undependable as a brook, as watercourses that run dry in the wadies;

16 Though they may be black with ice, and with snow heaped upon them,

17 Yet once they flow, they cease to be; in the heat, they disappear from their place.

18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the desert and perish.

19 The caravans of Tema search, the companies of Sheba have hopes;

20 They are disappointed, though they were confident; they come there and are frustrated.

21 It is thus that you have now become for me; you see a terrifying thing and are afraid.

22 Have I asked you to give me anything, to offer a gift for me from your possessions,

23 Or to deliver me from the enemy, or to redeem me from oppressors?

24 Teach me, and I will be silent; prove to me wherein I have erred.

25 How agreeable are honest words; yet how unconvincing is your argument!

26 Do you consider your words as proof, but the sayings of a desperate man as wind?

27 You would even cast lots for the orphan, and would barter away your friend!

28 Come, now, give me your attention; surely I will not lie to your face.

29 Think it over; let there be no injustice. Think it over; I still am right.

30 Is there insincerity on my tongue, or cannot my taste discern falsehood?

v 1-3. Job replies that his complaints, if weighed against his suffering, the suffering would outweigh his complaints.

 

 

v 4-7. Job acknowledges that his suffering comes from God, but as the animals don’t cry for food when they are full, he wouldn’t complain if the suffering were not so bad. He would not eat food without flavor and wouldn’t complain without cause.

 

 

 

v 8--10. Again, in despair, Job wishes he could die and be released as from prison, but he affirms he is innocent of denying or defying God.

 

 

 

v 11-13. In 4:2, Eliphaz thinks Job is impatient, but Job’s reaction is that he has no hope and does not have the strength of stone or bronze.

 

 

v 14-17. When someone is in distress, his friends should be kind and helpful so he wouldn’t turn from God, or even if he did. His friends have been like a brook that runs full from winter snow, but in summer when it is needed, it dries up.

 

 

 

v 18-23. Caravans from Tema (midway between Damascus and Mecca) and Sheba (in southern Arabia since Gen. 10:7 or 28) became lost and sought water in these dried up brooks. Job’s friends were just as dried up to him. He had never asked them for help, but now when he needs encouragement, they fear God won’t let them.

 

 

 

 

 

v 24-27. Job pleads with them to tell him where he has gone wrong, even if it hurts, but there words were of no help, and they treated his as wind. They appeared to be treating him as unfairly as taking advantage of an orphan or a friend.

 

 

 

v 28-30. Paraphrase: “Look me in the face and see if I am lying concerning innocence, but I can see you are making false accusations.”