Job answers that his grief is heavier than the sand of the sea and he wishes God would end his life. He says his friends are as unreliable as dried-up streams and asks them to show him where he is wrong.
1 But Job answered and said ,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed , and my calamity laid in the balances together !
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea : therefore my words are swallowed up .
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit : the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass ? or loweth the ox over his fodder ?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt ? or is there any taste in the white of an egg ?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat .
8 Oh that I might have my request ; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for !
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand , and cut me off !
10 Then should I yet have comfort ; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow : let him not spare ; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One .
11 What is my strength , that I should hope ? and what is mine end , that I should prolong my life ?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones ? or is my flesh of brass ?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend ; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty .
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook , and as the stream of brooks they pass away ;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice , and wherein the snow is hid :
17 What time they wax warm , they vanish : when it is hot , they are consumed out of their place .
18 The paths of their way are turned aside ; they go to nothing , and perish .
19 The troops of Tema looked , the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped ; they came thither, and were ashamed .
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down , and are afraid .
22 Did I say , Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance ?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand ? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty ?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue : and cause me to understand wherein I have erred .
25 How forcible are right words ! but what doth your arguing reprove ?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words , and the speeches of one that is desperate , which are as wind ?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless , and ye dig a pit for your friend .
28 Now therefore be content , look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie .
29 Return , I pray you, let it not be iniquity ; yea, return again , my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue ? cannot my taste discern perverse things ?