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, if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!
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. That is why my words were reckless.
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 in me, my spirit drinks up the poison; the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?
6 Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
I refuse to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
Oh, that I might have my request; oh, that God would grant me the thing 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 crush me once, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life!
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.
May this still be my consolation— even if I exult in pain that does not lessen: that 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 try to wait? What is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
Is it not true that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom has been driven out of me?
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed, as channels of water that pass away to nothing,
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
which are darkened because of ice over them, and because of the snow that hides itself in them.
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
When they thaw out, they vanish; when it is hot, they melt out of their place.
18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water; they wander into barren land and then perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
Caravans from Tema looked there, while companies of Sheba hoped in them.
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water. They went there, but they were deceived.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
For now you friends are nothing to me; you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
Did I say to you, 'Give something to me?' Or, 'Offer me a gift from your wealth?'
23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
Or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand?' Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my 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; make me understand where I have been wrong.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child, and haggle over your friend like merchandise.
28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
Now, therefore, please look at me, for surely I would not lie to your face.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
Is there evil on my tongue? Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?
