[1] Then Job answered:
[2] “If my suffering could be weighed, and all my trouble could be put on the weighing scales,
[3] you would understand my sadness. My sadness would be heavier than all the sand of the seas! That is why my words seem foolish.
[4] God All-Powerful’s arrows are in me. My spirit feels the poison from those arrows! God’s terrible weapons are lined up against me.
[5] ˻Your words are easy to say when nothing bad has happened.˼ Even a wild donkey doesn’t complain when it has grass to eat. And a cow doesn’t complain when it has its food.
[6] Food without salt doesn’t taste good. And the white of an egg doesn’t have any taste.
[7] I refuse to touch it; that kind of food makes me sick! ˻And that is what your words are like to me now.˼
[8] “I wish I could have what I ask for. I wish God would give me what I want.
[9] I wish God would crush me, just go ahead and kill me!
[10] And if he does kill me, I will be comforted about one thing, I will be happy about one thing: Even through all this pain, I never refused to obey the commands of the Holy One.
[11] “My strength is gone, so I have no hope to go on living. I don’t know what will happen to me, so I have no reason to be patient.
[12] I am not strong like a rock. My body is not made from bronze.
[13] I don’t have power to help myself now. Why? Because success has been taken away from me.
[14] “A person’s friends should be kind to him if he has troubles. A person should be loyal to his friend, even if that friend turned away from ˻God˼ All-Powerful.
[15] But you, my brothers, have not been loyal. I can’t depend on you. You are like streams that flow sometimes and don’t flow at other times. You are like streams that overflow
[16] when they are choked with ice and melting snow.
[17] And when the weather is hot and dry, the water stops flowing, and the streams are gone.
[18] Traders follow the twists and turns out into the desert and they disappear.
[19] Traders from Tema look for ˻water˼. Travelers from Sheba look hopefully.
[20] They were sure they would find water but they were disappointed.
[21] Now, you are like those streams. You see my troubles and are afraid.
[22] Did I ask for your help? No! But you freely gave me your advice!
[23] Did I say to you, 'Save me from the enemy! Save me from cruel people!’
[24] “So now, teach me, and I will be quiet. Show me what I have done wrong.
[25] Honest words are powerful. But your arguments prove nothing.
[26] Do you plan to criticize me? Will you speak more tiring words?
[27] You would even gamble to win things that belong to children without fathers. You would sell out your own friend.
[28] But now, please study my face. I would not lie to you.
[29] So now, change your mind. Don’t be unfair, think again. I have done nothing wrong.
[30] I am not lying. And I know right from wrong.”