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But Job answered and said,
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Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
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For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
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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.
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Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
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Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there [any] taste in the white of an egg?
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The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.
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Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!
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Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
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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.
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What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?
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[Is] my strength the strength of stones? or [is] my flesh of brass?
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[Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
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To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
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My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
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Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid:
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What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
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The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
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The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
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They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
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For now ye are nothing; ye see [my] casting down, and are afraid.
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Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
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Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
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Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
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How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
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Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
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Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
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Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident unto you if I lie.
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Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
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Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?