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?
Ījabs: mana apsūdzība ir taisnīga
1 Ījabs atbildēja, sacīdams:
2 “Kaut manu rūgtumu svērtin svērtu,
visu manu postu uz svariem liktu!
3 Par jūras smiltīm tas smagāk sver,
tādēļ vārdi man samisas.
4 Jo Visuvarenā bultas mani ķer,
un viņu indi dzer mana sirds,
Dieva briesmas stājas pret mani!
5 Vai mežēzelis brēks leknā zālē?
Vai vērsis mauros pie mistra siles?
6 Kas pliekanu ēdīs bez sāls?
Vai olas receklim kāda garša?
7 Negrib tam pieskarties mana dvēsele,
nešķīsta man šī maize!
8 Kaut man dāvātu, ko es lūdzu,
ko gaidu, kaut dotu Dievs,
9 lai uzklausa un sadragā mani,
izstiepj roku un nocērt mani!
10 Tad man būtu vēl mierinājums –
skaudrās sāpēs es gavilētu,
ka Svētā vārdus apslēpis neesmu!
11 Kur man spēks, lai vēl gaidu?
Kāds mans gals, ka vēl ciešos?
12 Vai es tik stiprs kā akmens?
Vai mana miesa no vara?
13 Vai palīdzība nav atņemta man
un mans padoms no manis atrauts?
14 Vai drauga žēluma nevajag tam,
kas izmisis kurn pret Stipro?
15 Viltīgi mani brāļi kā strauts,
kā palu gultne tie zūd,
16 tie melnē no ledus,
apslēpjas tajos sniegs,
17 kad tveice uznāk, tie sīkst,
karstumā iznīkst no savas vietas.
18 Karavānas nogriežas sānis,
tuksnesī noiet un pazūd,
19 lūko ūdeni Tēmas karavānas,
Šebas ceļinieki cer uz to –
20 kaunas, ka paļāvušies,
atnākuši tie pieviļas.
21 Tāpat jūs tagad ar mani –
ieraugāt briesmas, jau nobīstaties!
22 Vai tad sacīju: dodiet man!
No sava krājuma par mani maksājiet,
23 glābiet mani no naidnieku rokām,
no varmāku rokām izpērciet mani?!
24 Māciet mani, es cietīšu klusu!
Kur mana vaina, stāstiet man!
25 Cik stipri ir taisnības vārdi,
bet ko var pārmest tādi kā jūs?
26 Vai jūs domājat vārdus norāt?
Vai grūtdieņa vārdi tik vējam vien?
27 Par bāreni kauliņus metat,
tirgojaties par savu draugu!
28 Tad nu paceliet vaigu pret mani!
Vai tad es jums melotu vaigā?!
29 Atkāpieties! – te viltus nav,
nu atkāpieties! – es palieku taisns!
30 Vai man uz mēles ir netaisnība,
vai manas aukslējas nejustu postu?
