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Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz
Then Job spoke again:
Then Job spoke again:
Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just
Then Job answered and said:
Then Job answered and said:
“If my misery could be weighed
and my troubles be put on the scales,
and my troubles be put on the scales,
“Oh that my vexation were weighed,
and all my calamity laid in the balances!
and all my calamity laid in the balances!
they would outweigh all the sands of the sea.
That is why I spoke impulsively.
That is why I spoke impulsively.
For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;
therefore my words have been rash.
therefore my words have been rash.
For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows.
Their poison infects my spirit.
God’s terrors are lined up against me.
Their poison infects my spirit.
God’s terrors are lined up against me.
For the arrows of the Almighty are in me;
my spirit drinks their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
my spirit drinks their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
Don’t I have a right to complain?
Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass,
and oxen bellow when they have no food?
Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass,
and oxen bellow when they have no food?
Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,
or the ox low over his fodder?
or the ox low over his fodder?
My appetite disappears when I look at it;
I gag at the thought of eating it!
I gag at the thought of eating it!
“Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant my desire.
that God would grant my desire.
“Oh that I might have my request,
and that God would fulfill my hope,
and that God would fulfill my hope,
I wish he would crush me.
I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.
I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.
that it would please God to crush me,
that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
At least I can take comfort in this:
Despite the pain,
I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
Despite the pain,
I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
But I don’t have the strength to endure.
I have nothing to live for.
I have nothing to live for.
What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should be patient?
And what is my end, that I should be patient?
Do I have the strength of a stone?
Is my body made of bronze?
Is my body made of bronze?
Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
No, I am utterly helpless,
without any chance of success.
without any chance of success.
Have I any help in me,
when resource is driven from me?
when resource is driven from me?
My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook
that overflows its banks in the spring
that overflows its banks in the spring
My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,
as torrential streams that pass away,
as torrential streams that pass away,
when it is swollen with ice and melting snow.
which are dark with ice,
and where the snow hides itself.
and where the snow hides itself.
But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears.
The brook vanishes in the heat.
The brook vanishes in the heat.
When they melt, they disappear;
when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
The caravans turn aside to be refreshed,
but there is nothing to drink, so they die.
but there is nothing to drink, so they die.
The caravans turn aside from their course;
they go up into the waste and perish.
they go up into the waste and perish.
The caravans from Tema search for this water;
the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
The caravans of Tema look,
the travelers of Sheba hope.
the travelers of Sheba hope.
They count on it but are disappointed.
When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.
When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.
They are ashamed because they were confident;
they come there and are disappointed.
they come there and are disappointed.
You, too, have given no help.
You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.
You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.
For you have now become nothing;
you see my calamity and are afraid.
you see my calamity and are afraid.
But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift?
Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?
Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?
Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’?
Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?
Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?
Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies,
or to save me from ruthless people?
or to save me from ruthless people?
Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’?
Teach me, and I will keep quiet.
Show me what I have done wrong.
Show me what I have done wrong.
“Teach me, and I will be silent;
make me understand how I have gone astray.
make me understand how I have gone astray.
Honest words can be painful,
but what do your criticisms amount to?
but what do your criticisms amount to?
How forceful are upright words!
But what does reproof from you reprove?
But what does reproof from you reprove?
Do you think your words are convincing
when you disregard my cry of desperation?
when you disregard my cry of desperation?
Do you think that you can reprove words,
when the speech of a despairing man is wind?
when the speech of a despairing man is wind?
You would even cast lots over the fatherless,
and bargain over your friend.
and bargain over your friend.
Look at me!
Would I lie to your face?
Would I lie to your face?
“But now, be pleased to look at me,
for I will not lie to your face.
for I will not lie to your face.
Stop assuming my guilt,
for I have done no wrong.
for I have done no wrong.
Please turn; let no injustice be done.
Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
Turn now; my vindication is at stake.