Job 6
1 Then Job replied:
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 “If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.
Oh that, weighed, were my vexation, and, my engulfing ruin—into the balances, they would lift up all at once!
3 For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been rash.
For, now, beyond the sand of the seas, would it be heavy, On this account, my words, have wandered.
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, the arrows of the Almighty, are in me, The heat whereof, my spirit is drinking up, The, terrors of GOD, array themselves against me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?
Doth the wild ass bray over grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
My soul hath refused to touch, Those things, are like disease in my food.
8 If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:
Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!
9 that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!
That it would please GOD to crush me, That he would set free 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.
So might it still be my comfort, And I might exult in the anguish he would not spare, —That I had not concealed 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 strength, that I should hope? Or what mine end, that I should prolong my desire?
12 Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
Is my strength, the strength of stones? Or is, my flesh, of bronze?
13 Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?
Is there any help at all in me? Is not, abiding success, driven from me?
14 A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
The despairing, from his friend, should have lovingkindness, or, the reverence of the Almighty, he may forsake.
15 But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,
Mine own brethren, have proved treacherous like a torrent, like a channel of torrents which disappear:
16 darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,
Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:
17 but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
By the time they begin to thaw, they are dried up, as soon as it is warm, they have vanished out of their place.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.
Caravans turn aside by their course, they go up into a waste, and are lost:
19 The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
The caravans of Tema looked about, the travelling companies of Sheba, hoped for them:
20 They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.
They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.
21 For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
For, now, ye have come to him, ye see something fearful, and fear.
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;
Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?
And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And, out of the hand of tyrants, ransom me?
24 Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
Show me, and, I, will hold my peace, And, wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.
25 How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?
26 Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
To decide words, do ye intend, When, to the wind, are spoken the sayings of one in despair?
27 You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.
Surely, the fatherless, ye would assail, and make merchandise of your friend!
28 But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?
But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,
29 Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.
Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!
30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?
Is there, in my tongue, perversity? Or can, my sense, not discern, engulfing ruin?
