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!
O that my grief were weighed thoroughly! That my calamities were put together in the balance!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
Surely they would be heavier than the sand of the sea; On this account were my words rash.
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 have pierced me; Their poison drinketh up my spirit; 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 in the midst of 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 is unsavory be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
That which my soul abhorreth to touch Hath become my loathsome food.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!
9 And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
That it would please God to destroy 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.
Yet it should still be my consolation, Yea, in unsparing anguish I would exult, That I have not denied 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 hope? And what 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 brass?
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that pass away;
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
Which are turbid by reason of the ice, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up from their place.
18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
The caravans turn aside to them on their way; They go up into the desert, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
Have I said, Bring me gifts? Or, Give a present for me out 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 enemy's hand? Or, Rescue me from the hand of the violent?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Convince me, and I will hold my peace; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
How powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye 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.
Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?
