Job defends his anger

¹ Job responded:

² Oh, that my grief were actually weighed, all of it were lifted up in scales;

³ for now it’s heavier than the sands of the sea; therefore, my words are rash.

⁴ The Almighty’s arrows are in me; my spirit drinks their poison, and God’s terrors are arrayed against me.

⁵ Does a donkey bray over grass or an ox bellow over its fodder?

⁶ Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or does egg white have taste?

He wishes to die

⁷ I refuse to touch them; they resemble food for the sick.

⁸ Oh, that what I’ve requested would come and God grant my hope;

⁹ that God be willing to crush me, release his hand and cut me off.

¹⁰ I’d still take comfort, relieved even though in persistent pain; for I’ve not denied the words of the holy one.

¹¹ What is my strength, that I should hope; my end, that my life should drag on?

¹² Is my strength that of rocks, my flesh bronze?

He accuses his friends

¹³ I don’t have a helper for myself; success has been taken from me.

¹⁴ Are friends loyal to the one who despairs, or do they stop fearing the Almighty?

¹⁵ My companions are treacherous like a stream in the desert, like channels that overrun their streambeds,

¹⁶ like those darkened by thawing ice, in which snow is obscured

¹⁷ but that stop flowing in dry times and vanish from their channels in heat.

¹⁸ Caravans turn aside from their paths; they go up into untamed areas and perish.

¹⁹ Caravans from Tema look; merchants from Sheba hope for it.

²⁰ They are ashamed that they trusted; they arrive and are dismayed.

He appeals to his friends

²¹ That’s what you are like; you see something awful and are afraid.

²² Have I said, “Give me something? Offer a bribe from your wealth for me?

²³ Rescue me from the hand of my enemy? Ransom me from the grip of the ruthless?”

²⁴ Instruct me and I’ll be quiet; inform me how I’ve erred.

²⁵ How painful are truthful words, but what do your condemnations accomplish?

²⁶ Do you intend to correct my words, to treat the words of a hopeless man as wind?

²⁷ Would you even gamble over an orphan, barter away your friend?

²⁸ Now look at me— would I lie to your face?

²⁹ Turn! Don’t be faithless. Turn now! I am righteous.

³⁰ Is there wrong on my tongue, or can my mouth not recognize disaster?