Job 6
1 And Job answered and said,
But Job answered, and said:
2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance.
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow:
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
For the arrows of the Lord are in me, the rage whereof drinketh up my spirit, and the terrors of the Lord war against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
Will the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or will the ox low when he standeth before a full manger?
6 Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with salt? or can a man taste that which when tasted bringeth death?
7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for?
9 And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?
10 Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
And that this may be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not, nor I contradict the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?
For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them.
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
At the time when they shall be scattered they shall perish: and after it groweth hot they shall be melted out of their place.
18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
Now you are come: and now seeing my affliction you are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance?
23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.
28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
And you shall not And iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.
