Job 6
1 But Job answered, and said:
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance.
Oh that, weighed, were my vexation, and, my engulfing ruin—into the balances, they would lift up all at once!
3 As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow:
For, now, beyond the sand of the seas, would it be heavy, On this account, my words, have wandered.
4 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.
For, the arrows of the Almighty, are in me, The heat whereof, my spirit is drinking up, The, terrors of GOD, array themselves against me.
5 Will the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or will the ox low when he standeth before a full manger?
Doth the wild ass bray over grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with salt? or can a man taste that which when tasted bringeth death?
Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.
My soul hath refused to touch, Those things, are like disease in my food.
8 Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for?
Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!
9 And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?
That it would please GOD to crush me, That he would set free his hand, and cut me off!
10 And that this may be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not, nor I contradict the words of the Holy One.
So might it still be my comfort, And I might exult in the anguish he would not spare, —That I had not concealed the sayings of the Holy One.
11 For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience?
What is my strength, that I should hope? Or what mine end, that I should prolong my desire?
12 My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.
Is my strength, the strength of stones? Or is, my flesh, of bronze?
13 Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.
Is there any help at all in me? Is not, abiding success, driven from me?
14 He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
The despairing, from his friend, should have lovingkindness, or, the reverence of the Almighty, he may forsake.
15 My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.
Mine own brethren, have proved treacherous like a torrent, like a channel of torrents which disappear:
16 They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them.
Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:
17 At the time when they shall be scattered they shall perish: and after it groweth hot they shall be melted out of their place.
By the time they begin to thaw, they are dried up, as soon as it is warm, they have vanished out of their place.
18 The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.
Caravans turn aside by their course, they go up into a waste, and are lost:
19 Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
The caravans of Tema looked about, the travelling companies of Sheba, hoped for them:
20 They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.
They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.
21 Now you are come: and now seeing my affliction you are afraid.
For, now, ye have come to him, ye see something fearful, and fear.
22 Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance?
Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;
23 Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty?
And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And, out of the hand of tyrants, ransom me?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.
Show me, and, I, will hold my peace, And, wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.
25 Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me?
How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?
26 You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.
To decide words, do ye intend, When, to the wind, are spoken the sayings of one in despair?
27 You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.
Surely, the fatherless, ye would assail, and make merchandise of your friend!
28 However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.
But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,
29 Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.
Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!
30 And you shall not And iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.
Is there, in my tongue, perversity? Or can, my sense, not discern, engulfing ruin?
