3 For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
3 For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas!That is why my words are rash.
3 It would weigh more than the sand on the seashore! Here's why I've talked so rashly:
4 For arrows of the Mighty are with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves for me!
4 “For the (C)arrows of the Almighty are within me,(b)Their (D)poison my spirit drinks;The (E)terrors of God are arrayed against me.
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.
4 Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced(a) me;my spirit drinks their poison.God’s terrors are arrayed against me.(C)
4 "The arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit absorbs their poison; God's terrors have been arranged just for me!
5 Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
5 Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grassor an ox low over its fodder?
5 "Will the wild donkey bray from hunger if fresh grass is beside him? Will the ox low from distress if it is near its feed?
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
8 “Oh that my request might come to pass,And that God would grant my longing!
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
8 If only my request would be grantedand God would provide what I hope for:
8 "Who will grant my wish? I wish God would grant what I'm hoping for:
9 That God would please -- and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
9 that He would decide to crush me,to unleash His power and cut me off!
9 that God would just be willing to crush me; that he would let loose and eliminate me!
10 And yet it is my comfort, (And I exult in pain -- He doth not spare,) That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.
10 “But it is still my consolation,And I rejoice in unsparing pain,That I (I)have not (d)denied the words of the Holy One.
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.
10 It would still bring me comfort,and I would leap for joy in unrelenting painthat I have not denied(c) the words of the Holy One.(E)
10 At least I could still take comfort and rejoice in unceasing anguish, for I didn't conceal what the Holy One has to say.
11 What is my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
11 What strength do I have that I should continue to hope?What is my future, that I should be patient?
11 "Do I have the strength to wait? And why should I be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?
12 “Is my strength the strength of stones,Or is my flesh bronze?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
12 Is my strength that of stone,or my flesh made of bronze?
12 Am I as strong as a rock? Am I some kind of iron man?
14 To a despiser of his friends is shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
14 “For the (M)despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;So that he does not (N)forsake the (g)fear of the Almighty.
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
14 A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends,(d)(F)even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
14 The friend shows gracious love for his friend, even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
15 “My brothers have acted (O)deceitfully like a (h)wadi,Like the torrents of (i)wadis which vanish,
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
15 My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi,as seasonal streams that overflow
15 But my brothers have acted treacherously like a cascading river, like torrential rivers that overflow.
17 By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
17 The wadis evaporate in warm weather;they disappear from their channels in hot weather.
17 But then the snow melts, and they disappear; when warmed, they evaporate from their stream beds.
18 Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
18 Caravans turn away from their routes,go up into the desert, and perish.
18 Travelers divert in their route; they go into a wasteland and die.
19 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
19 The caravans of Tema look for these streams.The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
19 Travelers from Tema search intently; caravans from Sheba hope to find them.
20 They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
20 They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water.When they arrive there, they are frustrated.(G)
20 For all their expectations, they are doomed to disappointment; even though they have come and searched this far.
22 Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
22 “Have I said, ‘Give me something,’Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
22 Have I ever said: “Give me something”or “Pay a bribe for me from your wealth”
22 When did I ever ask you for anything, say "Offer a bribe for me from your wealth?'
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,’Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
23 or “Deliver me from the enemy’s power”or “Redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless”?
23 or say "Deliver me from my enemy's control,' or "Redeem me from the domination of ruthless people'?"
24 Shew me, and I -- I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
24 Teach me, and I will be silent.Help me understand what I did wrong.
24 "Instruct me, and I'll remain silent. Help me understand where I've gone astray.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?
25 “How painful are honest words!But what does your argument prove?
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
25 How painful honest words can be!But what does your rebuke prove?
25 The truth can be painful, but what has your argument proven?
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.
International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.
King James Version Public Domain
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