And Iyyov answered and said,

Then Iyyov raised his voice and said [(in response to 5:2)]:

Oh that my vexation were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances!

If my anger and my breaking were weighed, if they were placed together in the balance [scale],

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are stammering.

it [(my breaking)] would outweigh [(my anger)] more than [would the weight of] the sand of the seas; therefore, I rant as I do.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which my spirit drinks up: the terrors of God array themselves against me.

For the arrows of the Almighty are lodged with me, whose venom my spirit drinks. The terrors of G d beleaguer me.

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

Does the wild ass bray [(in complaint)] over his grass? Does the ox low over his fodder?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Can one eat bland food [(your reproof)] unsalted? Is there any taste in the spittle [that comes from eating] strong food?

My soul refuses to touch them; they are to me as loathsome food.

What my soul recoiled at touching are [now] the spreads of my bread [i.e., my table].

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Would that my request were granted, and that G d fulfilled my hope —

Even that it would please God to trample on me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

that G d will and stamp me out, that He strengthen His hand [i.e., His blow] and have done with me!

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exalt in pain: let him not spare; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

And let my consolation further be — (and I shall shudderingly implore that He not pity [and cut me off])] — that I have not destroyed words of holiness [i.e., that I have fulfilled His mitzvoth and will find peace in the world to come].

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is my end, that I should be patient?

What strength is [left] in me that I should wait [(for healing or for death)] and how [important] is my end that I should stretch out my will [against protestation]?

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

Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh copper?

Is not my help in me? and is sound policy driven quite from me?

Is even my succor [(the consolation of my friends)] absent from me? Counsel is cast away from me [(for they have risen against me to vex me)].

To him that is afflicted love is due from his friend; or else he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

[You have become] as one who withholds lovingkindness from his friend and abandons the fear of the Almighty.

My brethren have dealt deceitfully like a wadi, and like the water courses which disappear;

My friends have betrayed me like a stream; like a water course they have passed on [(from friendship)].

which are black by reason of the ice, and in which the snow dissolves:

[(the "betrayals" of a stream:)] [Its waters are] darkened with ice; and snow [(falling on the ice)] is hidden over them [(so that their prospective drinkers are "betrayed")].

when the time comes they grow warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

When they are warmed [(by the sun)], they shrivel; in his heat, they leap from their place.

The caravans turn this way and that in their course: they go up into the waste, and perish.

They cling to their wonted ways; they vanish into nothingness and are lost.

The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheva waited for them –

The caravans of Tema looked out [for them]; the travelers of Sheva made a line for them.

they were confounded because they had hoped; they came there, and were abashed.

They who came trusting [to drink] were shamed. They came to it [(the stream)] and were shamed.

For now you are like it; you see terror, and are afraid.

Now you [(my "friends")] have been like it. You saw [my] breaking and you were afraid [to speak the truth].

Did I say, Bring me something? or, Give a ransom for me out of your substance?

Did I say, "Give me something," and "Pay a bribe for me from your labors" [i.e., your money]?

or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of tyrants?

and "Save me from the hand of the oppressors," and "Redeem me from the hand of tyrants"?

Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Teach me and I will keep still. Make me understand where I have gone astray.

How forcible are right words! but what does your reproof seek to reprove?

How cogent are just words, but what does a reprover among you prove!

Do you think your words to be a sound argument, but the sayings of a desperate man to be mere wind?

Would you think to elucidate things? [Your] futile words are like the wind!

would you even overthrow an orphan, or seek to undermine your friend?

[By your argumentation] you cast wrath upon an orphan [i.e., an unfortunate such as I], and you dig a pit against your friend.

Now therefore, be good enough to turn towards me: for surely I will not lie to your face.

And now, if you will, pay heed to me, and see if I lie to your faces.

Return, I pray you, let there be no unfairness: and turn back again: my cause is just.

Return now [(to search things out)] that there be no wrong, and return again [to probe the matter], and my righteousness [(will be found)] in it.

Is there injustice in my tongue? cannot my taste discern crafty devices?

Is there wrong in my tongue? Does my palate not sense deception?