Job 6
1 And Job answered and said,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
Oh that my vexation could be truly weighed, and my calamity; oh that men might lift it up in the balances at once!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
For now it is already heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore are my words confused.
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 it: the terrors of God 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 over the 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?
Is ever tasteless food eaten without salt? or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?
7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
My soul refuseth to touch them: they are unto me like disgusting food.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
Oh that some one would grant the accomplishment of my request; and that God would grant me the fulfillment of my hope!
9 And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
Yea, that it would please God that he might crush me: that he would let loose his hand, and make an end of me!
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 would this be still my comfort; yea, I would rejoice in my pain while be would not spare: that I have not gainsaid the commands 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 my end, that I should yet longer retain my patience?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
Is the strength of stones my strength? or is my flesh brazen?
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
Truly, am I not without my help in me? and is not wise counsel driven far away from me?
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
As though I were one who refuseth kindness to his friend, and forsaketh the fear of the Almighty:
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
My brothers are treacherous as a brook, like flowing brooks they pass along;
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
Which are made turbid by reason of the ice, wherein the snow hideth itself;
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
At the time when they feel the warmth, they vanish; when it is hot, they are quenched 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 course wind themselves along; they go in the wilderness and are lost.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
The caravans of Thema look hither, the travelling companies Sheba hope for them;
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
But they stand ashamed because they had trusted; they come thither and are made to blush.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
For truly now ye are like such a one: ye see my terrible state and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
Have I then ever said, Give me something, and out of your property offer a bribe in my behalf?
23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? and redeem from the hand of tyrants?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Teach me, and I will indeed remain silent; and wherein I erred give me to understand.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
How pleasant are straightforward words! but what doth arguing prove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
Do ye think to reprove words, and [to regard] as wind the speeches of one that is despairing?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
Yea, ye would cast any thing upon the fatherless, and ye would dig a pit against your friend.
28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
But now, if it please you, turn yourselves toward me, and [say] whether I would lie before your face.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
Reflect again, I pray you, there will be no wrong: yea, reflect once more, my righteousness [will be found] therein.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
Is there any wrong on my tongue? or should my palate not understand [if I spoke] what is iniquitous?
