Job 6
1 And Job made answer and said,
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!
Oh that, weighed, were my vexation, and, my engulfing ruin—into the balances, they would lift up all at once!
3 For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.
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 Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order 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 the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?
Doth the wild ass bray over grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?
Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.
My soul hath refused to touch, Those things, are like disease in my food.
8 If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!
Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!
9 If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!
That it would please GOD to crush me, That he would set free his hand, and cut me off!
10 So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to 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 Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?
What is my strength, that I should hope? Or what mine end, that I should prolong my desire?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?
Is my strength, the strength of stones? Or is, my flesh, of bronze?
13 I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me.
Is there any help at all in me? Is not, abiding success, driven from me?
14 He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.
The despairing, from his friend, should have lovingkindness, or, the reverence of the Almighty, he may forsake.
15 My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:
Mine own brethren, have proved treacherous like a torrent, like a channel of torrents which disappear:
16 Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them;
Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:
17 Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of 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 The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction.
Caravans turn aside by their course, they go up into a waste, and are lost:
19 The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:
The caravans of Tema looked about, the travelling companies of Sheba, hoped for them:
20 They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone.
They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.
21 So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.
For, now, ye have come to him, ye see something fearful, and fear.
22 Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?
Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;
23 Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?
And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And, out of the hand of tyrants, ransom me?
24 Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.
Show me, and, I, will hold my peace, And, wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.
25 How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?
How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?
26 My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.
To decide words, do ye intend, When, to the wind, are spoken the sayings of one in despair?
27 Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.
Surely, the fatherless, ye would assail, and make merchandise of your friend!
28 Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.
But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,
29 Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.
Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!
30 Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?
Is there, in my tongue, perversity? Or can, my sense, not discern, engulfing ruin?
