Parallel Verses

A Conservative Version

Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,

New American Standard Bible

“Why is light given to him who suffers,
And life to the bitter of soul,

King James Version

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

Holman Bible

Why is light given to one burdened with grief,
and life to those whose existence is bitter,

International Standard Version

"Why does God give light to the sufferer or life to the bitter person:

American Standard Version

Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;

Amplified


“Why is the light given to him who is in misery,
And life to the bitter in soul,

Bible in Basic English

Why does he give light to him who is in trouble, and life to the bitter in soul;

Darby Translation

Wherefore is light given to him that is in trouble, and life to those bitter of soul,

Julia Smith Translation

Wherefore shall light be given to him toiling, and life to the bitter of soul?

King James 2000

Therefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;

Lexham Expanded Bible

"Why does he give light to one in misery and life to [those] bitter of soul,

Modern King James verseion

Why is light given to one who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

"Wherefore is the light given to him that is in misery? And life unto them that have heavy hearts?

NET Bible

"Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter,

New Heart English Bible

"Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,

The Emphasized Bible

Wherefore give, to the wretched, light? Or, life, to the embittered in soul? -

Webster

Why is light given to him that is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul;

World English Bible

"Why is light given to him who is in misery, life to the bitter in soul,

Youngs Literal Translation

Why giveth He to the miserable light, and life to the bitter soul?

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
אור 
'owr 
Usage: 122

נתן 
Nathan 
Usage: 2011

to him that is in misery
עמל 
`amel 
Usage: 9

and life
חי 
Chay 
Usage: 502

unto the bitter
מרה מר 
Mar 
Usage: 38

Context Readings

Job Wishes He Might Die

19 The small and the great are there. And the servant is free from his master. 20 Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter in soul, 21 who long for death, but it comes not, and dig for it more than for hid treasures,

Cross References

Job 7:15-16

so that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than [these] my bones.

Jeremiah 20:18

Why did I come forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

1 Samuel 1:10

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to LORD, and wept much.

Proverbs 31:6

Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish, and wine to the bitter in soul.

2 Kings 4:27

And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away, but the man of God said, Let her alone, for her soul is vexed within her, and LORD has hid it from me, and has n

Job 3:16

Or I should have been as a hidden untimely birth, as infants that never saw light.

Job 6:9

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

Job 33:28

He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit, and my life shall behold the light.

Job 33:30

to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of the living.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain