Job 6
1 Then Job replied:
And Job answers and says:
2 “If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.
“O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
3 For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been rash.
For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, Therefore my words have been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!
5 Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?
Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
7 My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
8 If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:
O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9 that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!
That God would please—and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
10 It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
And yet it is my comfort (And I exult in pain—He does not spare), That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.
11 What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?
What [is] my power that I should hope? And what [is] my end that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?
13 Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?
Is my help not with me, And substance driven from me?
14 A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.
15 But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,
My brothers have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
16 darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,
That are black because of ice, By them snow hides itself.
17 but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.
The paths turn aside of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19 The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.
They were ashamed that one has trusted, They have come to it and are confounded.
21 For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;
Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?
And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?
24 Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
Show me, and I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25 How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
How powerful have been upright sayings, And what reproof from you reproves?
26 Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?
27 You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.
You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, And are strange to your friend.
28 But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?
And now, please, look on me, Even to your face do I lie?
29 Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.
Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.
30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?
Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”
