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And Job answered and said,
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Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
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For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
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For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
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Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
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Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
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What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
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Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
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And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
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Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied 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 have patience?
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Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
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Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
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For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
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My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
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Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
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At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
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They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
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The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
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They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
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So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
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Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
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Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
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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 upbraiding reprove?
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Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
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Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
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Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
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Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
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Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?