Job 6
1 And Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said:
2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.
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 Almighty are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh up; the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?
7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would 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.
Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for I have not denied 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?
What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
What time they wax warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed 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 way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them —
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for 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 adversary's hand'? or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?
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 cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?
