Job 6
1 But Job answered, and said:
Then Job spoke again, saying [to Eliphaz],
2 O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance.
“If all my troubles and misery could be put on a scale and weighed,
3 As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow:
they would be heavier than all the sands [on the shores] of the oceans. That is why I spoke (very rashly/without thinking clearly) [about the day that I was born].
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.
[It is as though] Almighty [God] has shot me with arrows. [It is as though] those arrows had poison on their tips, and that poison has gone into my spirit. The things that God has done to me have terrified me.
5 Will the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or will the ox low when he standeth before a full manger?
Just like a wild donkey does not [complain by] braying when it has plenty of grass to eat, and an ox does not [complain by] bellowing when it has food to eat [MET], [I would not complain if you were really helping/comforting me].
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?
People complain [RHQ] when they must eat food which has no salt or other tasteless food [MET], [and that is what your words are like, Eliphaz].
7 The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.
Just like I do not want to eat food [like that], and I loathe/detests that kind of food [MET], [I do not appreciate what you have said to me].
8 Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for?
“I wish that God would do for me what I have requested from him [DOU].
9 And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?
I wish that he would crush me [and let me die]. I wish that he would reach out his hand and take away my life.
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.
If he would do that, I would be comforted by knowing that in spite of the great pain that I have suffered, I have always obeyed what [God, ] the Holy One, has commanded.
11 For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience?
But now I do not have [RHQ] enough strength to endure all these things. And since I have nothing [to hope for] in (the future/this life), it is difficult for me to be patient now [RHQ].
12 My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.
I am not [RHQ] strong like rocks are, and my body is not made of bronze.
13 Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.
So I am not able to help myself, and [it seems that] there is no one to rescue me.”
14 He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
“When a man has many troubles, his friends should be kind to him, even if he stops revering Almighty [God].
15 My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.
But [you, ] my friends, are not dependable. You are like streams: They spill over their banks [in the spring]
16 They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them.
when [the melting] ice and snow make those streams overflow,
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.
but when the dry season comes, there is no water flowing [in those streams], and the channels dry up.
18 The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.
[The caravans of merchants] turn off the path [to search for some water], but there is no water, so they die [in the desert].
19 Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
The men in those caravans search [for some water] because they are sure that they will find some.
20 They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.
But they do not find any, so they are very disappointed.
21 Now you are come: and now seeing my affliction you are afraid.
Similarly, you friends have not helped me at all! You have seen that terrible things have happened to me, and you are afraid [that God might do similar things to you].
22 Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance?
[After I lost all my wealth, ] did I ask any of you for money? [RHQ] Did I plead with any of you to spend some of your money to help me [RHQ]?
23 Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty?
Have I asked any of you to rescue me from my enemies [RHQ]? Have I asked you to save me from those who (oppressed me/treated me badly) [RHQ]? [No!]”
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.
“Answer me [now, and then] I will be quiet; tell me what wrong things I have done!
25 Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me?
When people speak what is true, that will not hurt the person who hears it, but what you say, criticizing me, [is not true, so your saying it] proves nothing [RHQ]!
26 You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.
I am a man who has nothing to hope for, but you try to correct me, and you think what I say is nothing but wind [RHQ]!
27 You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.
You do not sympathize with me at all [for all that I am suffering]. [You are heartless!] You would even gamble to see who gets an orphan [as a prize]!
28 However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.
Please look at me! I will not [RHQ] lie to you.
29 Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.
Stop [saying that I have sinned, and] stop criticizing me unjustly! You should realize that I have not done things that are wrong.
30 And you shall not And iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.
Do you think that I am lying? No, I am not lying, because I know what is right and what is wrong [RHQ].”
