< Job 6 >

1 Then Job replied:
וַיַּעַן אִיּוֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
2 “If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.
לוּ שָׁקוֹל יִשָּׁקֵל כַּעְשִׂי והיתי וְהַוָּתִי בְּֽמֹאזְנַיִם יִשְׂאוּ־יָֽחַד׃
3 For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been rash.
כִּֽי־עַתָּה מֵחוֹל יַמִּים יִכְבָּד עַל־כֵּן דְּבָרַי לָֽעוּ׃
4 For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
כִּי חִצֵּי שַׁדַּי עִמָּדִי אֲשֶׁר חֲמָתָם שֹׁתָה רוּחִי בִּעוּתֵי אֱלוֹהַּ יַֽעַרְכֽוּנִי׃
5 Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?
הֲיִֽנְהַק־פֶּרֶא עֲלֵי־דֶשֶׁא אִם יִגְעֶה־שּׁוֹר עַל־בְּלִילֽוֹ׃
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
הֲיֵאָכֵל תָּפֵל מִבְּלִי־מֶלַח אִם־יֶשׁ־טַעַם בְּרִיר חַלָּמֽוּת׃
7 My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
מֵאֲנָה לִנְגּוֹעַ נַפְשִׁי הֵמָּה כִּדְוֵי לַחְמִֽי׃
8 If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:
מִֽי־יִתֵּן תָּבוֹא שֶֽׁאֱלָתִי וְתִקְוָתִי יִתֵּן אֱלֽוֹהַּ׃
9 that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!
וְיֹאֵל אֱלוֹהַּ וִֽידַכְּאֵנִי יַתֵּר יָדוֹ וִֽיבַצְּעֵֽנִי׃
10 It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
וּתְהִי עוֹד ׀ נֶחָמָתִי וַאֲסַלְּדָה בְחִילָה לֹא יַחְמוֹל כִּי־לֹא כִחַדְתִּי אִמְרֵי קָדֽוֹשׁ׃
11 What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?
מַה־כֹּחִי כִֽי־אֲיַחֵל וּמַה־קִּצִּי כִּֽי־אַאֲרִיךְ נַפְשִֽׁי׃
12 Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
אִם־כֹּחַ אֲבָנִים כֹּחִי אִֽם־בְּשָׂרִי נָחֽוּשׁ׃
13 Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?
הַאִם אֵין עֶזְרָתִי בִי וְתֻשִׁיָּה נִדְּחָה מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
14 A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
לַמָּס מֵרֵעֵהוּ חָסֶד וְיִרְאַת שַׁדַּי יַעֲזֽוֹב׃
15 But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,
אַחַי בָּגְדוּ כְמוֹ־נָחַל כַּאֲפִיק נְחָלִים יַעֲבֹֽרוּ׃
16 darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,
הַקֹּדְרִים מִנִּי־קָרַח עָלֵימוֹ יִתְעַלֶּם־שָֽׁלֶג׃
17 but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
בְּעֵת יְזֹרְבוּ נִצְמָתוּ בְּחֻמּוֹ נִדְעֲכוּ מִמְּקוֹמָֽם׃
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.
יִלָּפְתוּ אָרְחוֹת דַּרְכָּם יַעֲלוּ בַתֹּהוּ וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃
19 The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
הִבִּיטוּ אָרְחוֹת תֵּמָא הֲלִיכֹת שְׁבָא קִוּוּ־לָֽמוֹ׃
20 They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.
בֹּשׁוּ כִּֽי־בָטָח בָּאוּ עָדֶיהָ וַיֶּחְפָּֽרוּ׃
21 For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
כִּֽי־עַתָּה הֱיִיתֶם לא לוֹ תִּֽרְאוּ חֲתַת וַתִּירָֽאוּ׃
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;
הֲ‍ֽכִי־אָמַרְתִּי הָבוּ לִי וּמִכֹּחֲכֶם שִׁחֲדוּ בַעֲדִֽי׃
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?
וּמַלְּטוּנִי מִיַּד־צָר וּמִיַּד עָרִיצִים תִּפְדּֽוּנִי׃
24 Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
הוֹרוּנִי וַאֲנִי אַחֲרִישׁ וּמַה־שָּׁגִיתִי הָבִינוּ לִֽי׃
25 How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
מַה־נִּמְרְצוּ אִמְרֵי־יֹשֶׁר וּמַה־יּוֹכִיחַ הוֹכֵחַ מִכֶּֽם׃
26 Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
הַלְהוֹכַח מִלִּים תַּחְשֹׁבוּ וּלְרוּחַ אִמְרֵי נֹאָֽשׁ׃
27 You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.
אַף־עַל־יָתוֹם תַּפִּילוּ וְתִכְרוּ עַל־רֵֽיעֲכֶֽם׃
28 But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?
וְעַתָּה הוֹאִילוּ פְנוּ־בִי וְעַל־פְּנֵיכֶם אִם־אֲכַזֵּֽב׃
29 Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.
שֻֽׁבוּ־נָא אַל־תְּהִי עַוְלָה ושבי וְשׁוּבוּ עוֹד צִדְקִי־בָֽהּ׃
30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?
הֲיֵשׁ־בִּלְשׁוֹנִי עַוְלָה אִם־חִכִּי לֹא־יָבִין הַוּֽוֹת׃

< Job 6 >