VI. 1909-14. The Book of Job. The Harvard Classics

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The Book of Job.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.


[1]	THEN Job answered and said,
[2]	Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!
[3]	For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.
[4]	For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: 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 hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the 1 white of an egg?
[7]	My 2 soul refuseth to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.

[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 crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
[10]	And be it still my consolation, Yea, 3 let me exult 4 in pain that 5 spareth not, That I have not denied 6 the words of the Holy One.
[11]	What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?
[12]	Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
[13]	Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?

[14]	To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; Even 7 to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
[15]	My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;
[16]	Which are black by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself:
[17]	What time they wax 8 warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
[18]	The 9 caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.
[19]	The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.
[20]	They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.
[21]	For now ye are 10 nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.
[22]	Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?
[23]	Or, Deliver me from the adversary’s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

[24]	Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
[25]	How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?
[26]	Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as 11 wind?
[27]	Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.
[28]	Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For 12 surely I shall not lie to your face.
[29]	Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my 13 cause is righteous.
[30]	Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

Note 1. Or, the juice of purslain. [back]

Note 2. Or, What things my soul refused to touch, these are as my loathsome food. [back]

Note 3. Or, Though I shrink back. [back]

Note 4. Or, harden myself. [back]

Note 5. Or, though he spare not. [back]

Note 6. Or, concealed. [back]

Note 7. Or, Else might he forsake.Or, But he forsaketh. [back]

Note 8. Or, shrink. [back]

Note 9. Or, The paths of their way are turned aside. [back]

Note 10. Another reading is, are like thereto. [back]

Note 11. Or, for the wind. [back]

Note 12. Or, And it will be evident unto you if I lie. [back]

Note 13. Heb. my righteousness is in it. [back]

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