Job 6
1 But Job answered and said,
And Job answers and says:
2 Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!
“O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
3 And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.
For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, Therefore my words have been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.
For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!
5 What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has a fodder?
Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?
6 Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
7 For my wrath can’t cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.
My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
8 For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!
O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9 Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
That God would please—and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
10 Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leapt: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.
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 For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?
What [is] my power that I should hope? And what [is] my end that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?
13 Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.
Is my help not with me, And substance driven from me?
14 Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.
15 My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
My brothers have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
16 They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
That are black because of ice, By them snow hides itself.
17 When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
18 Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
The paths turn aside of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19 Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
They were ashamed that one has trusted, They have come to it and are confounded.
21 But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.
22 What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,
Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23 to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?
24 Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.
Show me, and I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25 But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.
How powerful have been upright sayings, And what reproof from you reproves?
26 Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?
27 Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, And are strange to your friend.
28 But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
And now, please, look on me, Even to your face do I lie?
29 Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.
30 For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”
