Job's Reply to Eliphaz
It's Impossible
1 Job said:
2 It's impossible to weigh
my misery and grief!
3 They outweigh the sand
along the beach,
and that's why I have spoken
without thinking first.
4 The fearsome arrows
of God All-Powerful
have filled my soul
with their poison.
5 Do oxen and wild donkeys
cry out in distress
unless they are hungry?
6 What is food without salt?
What is more tasteless
than the white of an egg?
7 That's how my food tastes,
and my appetite is gone.
* 8 How I wish that God
would answer my prayer
9 and do away with me.
10 Then I would be comforted,
knowing that in all of my pain
I have never disobeyed God.
11 Why should I patiently hope
when my strength is gone?
12 I am not strong as stone
or bronze,
13 and I have finally reached
the end of my rope.
My Friends, I Am Desperate
14 My friends, I am desperate,
and you should help me,
even if I no longer respect
God All-Powerful.
* 15 But you are treacherous
16 like streams that swell
with melting snow,
17 then suddenly disappear
in the summer heat.
18 I am like a caravan,
lost in the desert
while searching for water.
19 Caravans from Tema and Sheba
20 thought they would find water.
But they were disappointed,
21 just as I am with you.
Only one look at my suffering,
and you run away scared.
What Have I Done Wrong?
22 Have I ever asked any of you
to give me a gift
23 or to purchase my freedom
from brutal enemies?
24 What have I done wrong?
Show me,
and I will keep quiet.
25 The truth is always painful,
but your arguments
prove nothing.
26 Here I am desperate,
and you consider my words
as worthless as wind.
27 Why, you would sell an orphan
or your own neighbor!
28 Look me straight in the eye;
I won't lie to you.
29 Stop accusing me falsely;
my reputation is at stake.
30 I know right from wrong,
and I am not telling lies.
1 Bvt Iob answered, and said, 2 Oh that my griefe were well weighed, and my miseries were layed together in the balance. 3 For it woulde be nowe heauier then the sande of the sea: therefore my wordes are swallowed vp. 4 For the arrowes of the Almightie are in me, the venime whereof doeth drinke vp my spirit, and the terrours of God fight against me. 5 Doeth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe when he hath fodder? 6 That which is vnsauerie, shall it be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge? 7 Such things as my soule refused to touch, as were sorowes, are my meate. 8 Oh that I might haue my desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! 9 That is, that God would destroy me: that he would let his hand go, and cut me off. 10 Then should I yet haue comfort, (though I burne with sorowe, let him not spare) because I haue not denyed the wordes of the Holy one. 11 What power haue I that I should endure? or what is mine end, if I should prolong my life? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brasse? 13 Is it not so, that there is in me no helpe? and that strength is taken from me? 14 He that is in miserie, ought to be comforted of his neighbour: but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie. 15 My brethre haue deceiued me as a brook, and as the rising of the riuers they passe away. 16 Which are blackish with yee, and wherein the snowe is hid. 17 But in time they are dryed vp with heate and are consumed: and when it is hote they faile out of their places, 18 Or they depart from their way and course, yea, they vanish and perish. 19 They that go to Tema, considered them, and they that goe to Sheba, waited for them. 20 But they were confounded: when they hoped, they came thither and were ashamed. 21 Surely nowe are ye like vnto it: ye haue seene my fearefull plague, and are afraide. 22 Was it because I said, Bring vnto me? or giue a rewarde to me of your substance? 23 And deliuer me from the enemies hande, or ransome me out of the hand of tyrants? 24 Teach me, and I wil hold my tongue: and cause me to vnderstande, wherein I haue erred. 25 Howe stedfast are the wordes of righteousnes? and what can any of you iustly reproue? 26 Doe ye imagine to reproue wordes, that the talke of the afflicted should be as the winde? 27 Ye make your wrath to fall vpon the fatherlesse, and dig a pit for your friende. 28 Nowe therefore be content to looke vpon me: for I will not lie before your face. 29 Turne, I pray you, let there be none iniquitie: returne, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousnesse in that behalfe. Is there iniquitie in my tongue? doeth not my mouth feele sorowes?