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But Iob answered, and sayd,

Oh that my griefe were throughly weighed, and my calamitie layd in the balances together.

For now it would be heauier then the sand of the sea, therefore my words are swallowed vp.

For the arrowes of the Almightie are within me, the poyson whereof drinketh vp my spirit: the terrors of God doe set themselues in aray against mee.

Doeth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe ouer his fodder?

Can that which is vnsauery, bee eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge?

The things that my soule refused to touch, are as my sorrowfull meat.

O that I might haue my request! and that God would graunt mee the thing that I long for!

Euen that it would please God to destroy mee, that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off.

Then should I yet haue comfort, yea I would harden my selfe in sorrow; let him not spare, for I haue not concealed the words of the holy One.

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine ende, that I should prolong my life?

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

Is not my helpe in me? and is wisedome driuen quite from me?

To him that is afflicted, pitie should be shewed from his friend; But he forsaketh the feare of the Almighty.

My brethren haue delt deceitfully as a brooke, & as the streame of brookes they passe away,

Which are blackish by reason of the yce, and wherein the snow is hid:

What time they waxe warme, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

The pathes of their way are turned aside; they goe to nothing, and perish.

The troupes of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting downe, and are afraid.

Did I say, Bring vnto mee? or giue a reward for me of your substance?

Or deliuer me from the enemies hand, or redeeme me from the hand of the mighty?

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause mee to vnderstand wherein I haue erred.

How forcible are right wordes? but what doeth your arguing reproue?

Do ye imagine to reproue words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as winde?

Yea, ye ouerwhelme the fatherlesse, and you digge a pit for your friend.

Now therefore be content, looke vpon mee, for it is euident vnto you, if I lie.

Returne, I pray you, let it not be iniquitie; yea returne againe: my righteousnesse is in it.

Is there iniquitie in my tongue? cannot my taste discerne peruerse things?

Is there not an appointed time to man vpon earth? are not his dayes also like the dayes of an hireling?

As a seruant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his worke:

So am I made to possesse moneths of vanitie, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.

When I lie downe, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro, vnto the dawning of the day.

My flesh is cloathed with wormes and clods of dust, my skinne is broken, and become loathsome.

My dayes are swifter then a weauers shuttle, and are spent without hope.

O remember that my life is winde: mine eye shall no more see good.

The eye of him that hath seene me, shall see mee no more: thine eyes are vpon me, and I am not.

As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth downe to the graue, shall come vp no more.

Hee shall returne no more to his house: neither shall his place know him any more.

Therefore I will not refraine my mouth, I wil speake in the anguish of my spirit, I will complaine in the bitternesse of my soule.

Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch ouer me?

When I say, My bed shal comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint:

Then thou skarest mee with dreames, and terrifiest me through visions.

So that my soule chooseth strangling: and death rather then my life.

I loath it, I would not liue alway: let me alone, for my dayes are vanitie.

What is man, that thou shouldest magnifie him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart vpon him?

And that thou shouldest visite him euery morning, and trie him euery moment?

How long wilt thou not depart from me? nor let me alone till I swallow downe my spittle?

I haue sinned, what shall I doe vnto thee, O thou preseruer of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to my selfe?

And why doest thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquitie? for now shall I sleepe in the dust, and thou shalt seeke me in the morning, but I shall not be.