Job Questions His Creation

Job 10

Job, weary in soul, addresses the Lord and asks why he was formed in the womb only to be searched out, judged, and afflicted anew. He recalls how God fashioned and sustained him with life and mercy, yet asks to be let alone briefly before he departs to a land of darkness from which there is no return.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonWEARY of my life I would pour forth with groans my words before Hi: oppressed as I am I would speak in the bitterness of my soul,

BrentonWeary in my soul, I will pour my words with groans upon him: I will speak being straitened in the bitterness of my soul.

GreekΚαμνὼν τῇ ψυχῇ μου, στένων ἐπαφήσω ἐπʼ αὐτὸν τὰ ῥήματα μου· λαλήσω πικρίᾳ ψυχῆς μου συνεχόμενος,

KJVMy soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

JPSMy soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Thomsonand say to the Lord, Teach me not to be impious. Now, for what cause hast Thou thus condemned me?

BrentonAnd I will say to the Lord, Do not teach me to be impious; and wherefore hast thou thus judged me?

Greekκαὶ ἐρῶ πρὸς Κύριον, μή με ἀσεβεῖν δίδασκε· καὶ διατί με οὕτως ἔκρινας;

KJVI will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

JPS—

ThomsonIs it agreeable to Thee that I should commit iniquity; seeing Thou hast rejected the works of Thy hands and favoured the counsel of the wicked?

BrentonIs it good before thee if I be unrighteous? for thou hast disowned the work of thy hands, and attended to the counsel of the ungodly.

GreekἪ καλόν σοι ἐὰν ἀδικήσω; ὅτι ἀπείπω ἔργα χειρῶν σου, βουλῇ δὲ ἀσεβῶν προσέσχες.

KJVIs it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

JPSIs it good unto Thee that Thou shouldest oppress, That Thou shouldest despise the work of Thy hands, And shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

ThomsonAs a mortal looketh dost Thou look down? Or as a man looketh wilt Thou behold?

BrentonOr dost thou see as a mortal sees? or wilt thou look as a man sees?

GreekἪ ὥσπερ βροτὸς ὁρᾷ, καθορᾷς; ἢ καθὼς ὁρᾷ ἄνθρωπος, βλέψῃ;

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAre Thy days as the days of a mortal; or Thy years, the years of a man;

BrentonOr is thy life human, or thy years the years of a man,

GreekἪ ὁ βίος σου ἀνθρώπινός ἐστιν, ἢ τὰ ἔτη σου ἀνδρὸς,

KJVAre thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man’s days,

JPSAre Thy days as the days of man, Or Thy years as a man’s days,

Thomsonthat Thou hast sought out mine iniquity, and diligently traced my sins?

Brentonthat thou hast enquired into mine iniquity, and searched out my sins?

Greekὅτι ἀνεζήτησας τὴν ἀνομίαν μου, καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας μου ἐξιχνίασας;

KJVThat thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?

JPSThat Thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin, .

ThomsonFor Thou knowest that I am not impious: but who can deliver out of Thy hands?

BrentonFor thou knowest that I have not committed iniquity: but who is he that can deliver out of thy hands?

GreekΟἶδας γὰρ ὅτι οὐκ ἠσέβησα· ἀλλὰ τίς ἐστιν ὁ ἐκ τῶν χειρῶν σου ἐξαιρούμενος;

KJVThou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

JPSAlthough Thou knowest that I shall not be condemned; And there is none that can deliver out of Thy hand?

ThomsonThy hands have fashioned me and made me. After that Thou hast changed Thy mind and smitten me.

BrentonThy hands have formed me and made me; afterwards thou didst change thy mind, and smite me.

GreekΑἱ χεῖρές σου ἔπλασάν με καὶ ἐποίησάν με, μετὰ ταῦτα μεταβαλών με ἔπαισας.

KJVThine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.

JPS—

ThomsonRemember that Thou hast made me of clay, and art turning me again into mould.

BrentonRemember that thou hast made me as clay, and thou dost turn me again to earth.

GreekΜνήσθητι, ὅτι πηλόν με ἔπλασας, εἰς δὲ γῆν με πάλιν ἀποστρέφεις.

KJVRemember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?

JPSRemember, I beseech Thee, that Thou hast fashioned me as clay; And wilt Thou bring me into dust again?

ThomsonHast Thou not churned me as milk, and curdled me as cheese;

BrentonHast thou not poured me out like milk, and curdled me like cheese?

GreekἪ οὐχ ὥσπερ γάλα με ἤμελξας, ἐτύρωσας δέ με ἶσα τυρῷ;

KJVHast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?

JPSHast Thou not poured me out as milk, And curdled me like cheese?

Thomsonand clothed me with skin and flesh; and fenced me with bones and sinews,

BrentonAnd thou didst clothe me with skin and flesh, and frame me with bones and sinews.

GreekΔέρμα δὲ καὶ κρέας με ἐνέδυσας, ὀστέοις δὲ καὶ νεύροις με ἔνειρας.

KJVThou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.

JPSThou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.

Thomsonand granted me life and favour, and by Thy visitation preserved my spirit?

BrentonAnd thou didst bestow upon me life and mercy, and thy oversight has preserved my spirit.

GreekΖωὴν δὲ καὶ ἔλεος ἔθου παρʼ ἐμοὶ, ἡ δὲ ἐπισκοπή σου ἐφυλαξέ μου τὸ πνεῦμα.

KJVThou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.

JPSThou hast granted me life and favour, And Thy providence hath preserved my spirit.

ThomsonAs Thou hast these things in thyself; I know that Thou canst do all things, and that with Thee nothing is impossible.

BrentonHaving these things in thyself, I know that thou canst do all things; for nothing is impossible with thee.

GreekΤαῦτα ἔχων ἐν σεαυτῷ, οἶδα ὅτι πάντα δύνασαι· ἀδυνατεῖ δέ σοι οὐθέν.

KJVAnd these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.

JPSYet these things Thou didst hide in Thy heart; I know that this is with Thee;

Thomson—

BrentonAnd if I should sin, thou watchest me; and thou hast not cleared me from iniquity.

GreekἘάν τε γὰρ ἁμάρτω, φυλάσσεις με, ἀπὸ δὲ ἀνομίας οὐκ ἀθῶόν με πεποίηκας.

KJVIf I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

JPSIf I sin, then Thou markest me, And Thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.

ThomsonIf I indeed am impious, woe is me.

BrentonOr if I should be ungodly, woe is me: and if I should be righteous, I cannot lift myself up, for I am full of dishonour.

GreekἘάν τε γὰρ ἀσεβήσω, οἴμοι· ἐὰν δὲ ὦ δίκαιος, οὐ δύναμαι ἀνακύψαι, πλήρης γὰρ ἀτιμίας εἰμί.

KJVIf I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

JPSIf I be wicked, woe unto me; And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head— Being filled with ignominy And looking upon mine affliction.

ThomsonAnd if I be righteous, I cannot hold up my head, for I am full of ignominy. For I am hunted as a lion for slaughter. For turning again furiously Thou destroyest me.

BrentonFor I am hunted like a lion for slaughter; for again thou hast changed and art terribly destroying me;

GreekἈγρεύομαι γὰρ ὥσπερ λέων εἰς σφαγήν· πάλιν γὰρ μεταβαλὼν δεινῶς με ὀλέκεις,

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonRenewing the examination against me, Thou hast exercised against me great wrath; and hast brought against me tortures.

Brentonrenewing against me my torture: and thou hast dealt with me in great anger, and thou hast brought trials upon me.

Greekἐπανακαινίζων ἐπʼ ἐμὲ τὴν ἔτασίν μου· ὀργῇ δὲ μεγάλῃ μοι ἐχρήσω, ἐπήγαγες δὲ ἐπʼ ἐμὲ πειρατήρια.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonWhy then didst Thou bring me forth from the womb? And why did I not die without an eye seeing me;

BrentonWhy then didst thou bring me out of the womb? and why did I not die, and no eye see me,

GreekἹνατί οὖν ἐκ κοιλίας με ἐξήγαγες, καὶ οὐκ ἀπέθανον, ὀφθαλμὸς δέ με οὐκ εἶδε,

KJVWherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

JPSWherefore then hast Thou brought me forth out of the womb? Would that I had perished, and no eye had seen me!

Thomsonand become as if I never had existed? Why was I not carried from the womb to the grave?

Brentonand I become as if I had not been? for why was I not carried from the womb to the grave?

Greekκαὶ ὥσπερ οὐκ ὢν ἐγενόμην; διατί γὰρ ἐκ γαστρὸς εἰς μνῆμα οὐκ ἀπηλλάγην;

KJVI should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

JPSI should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

ThomsonIs not the term of my life of short duration? permit me to enjoy a little repose:

BrentonIs not the time of my life short? suffer me to rest a little,

GreekἪ οὐκ ὀλίγος ἐστὶν ὁ βίος τοῦ χρόνου μου; ἔασόν με ἀναπαύσασθαι μικρὸν,

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonbefore I go, whence I shall not return;

Brentonbefore I go whence I shall not return, to a land of darkness and gloominess;

Greekπρὸ τοῦ με πορευθῆναι ὅθεν οὐκ ἀναστρέψω, εἰς γῆν σκοτεινὴν καὶ γνοφερὰν,

KJVBefore I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;

JPSBefore I go whence I shall not return, Even to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;

Thomsonto a land dark and gloomy—to a land of everlasting darkness; where there is no light—no seeing the life of mortals.

Brentonto a land of perpetual darkness, where there is no light, neither can any one see the life of mortals.

Greekεἰς γῆν σκότους αἰωνίου, οὗ οὐκ ἔστι φέγγος, οὐδὲ ὁρᾷν ζωὴν βροτῶν.

KJVA land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

JPSA land of thick darkness, as darkness itself; A land of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as darkness.