Job 6
1 Then Job responded:
But Job answered and said,
2 “If my grief could be weighed and my troubles placed on the scales
Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 they would be heavier than the sand of the sea. That's why I spoke so rashly.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; their poison saps my spirit. God's terrors are lined up against me.
For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison of which drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5 Don't wild donkeys bray when their grass is gone? Don't cattle groan when they don't have food!
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can something that's tasteless be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? or is there [any] taste in the white of an egg?
7 I just can't touch any food—even the thought makes me feel sick!
The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful food.
8 Oh, if only I could have what I really want, that God would give me what I most desire—
Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!
9 that God would be willing to crush me to death, that he would just let me die!
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 But it still comforts me to know, making me happy through the never-ending pain, that I have never rejected the words of God.
Then should I yet have comfort; yes, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11 Why should I go on waiting when I don't have the strength? Why should I keep going when I don't know what is going to happen to me?
What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Am I as strong as rock? Am I made out of bronze?
[Is] my strength the strength of stones? or [is] my flesh of brass?
13 How can I help myself now that any chance of success is ripped away from me?
[Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 Anyone who isn't kind to a friend has given up respecting the Almighty.
To him that is afflicted pity [should be shown] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have acted as deceptively as a desert stream, rushing waters in the desert that vanish.
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 The stream floods when it is full of dark ice and melting snow,
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] in which the snow is hid:
17 but in the heat it dries up and disappears, vanishing from where it once was.
In the time when they become warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 Camel caravans turn aside to look for water, but don't find any and they die.
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 Caravans from Tema looked, travelers from Sheba were confident,
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 but their hopes were dashed—they came and found nothing.
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 Now you are no help, just like that—you see my trouble and you're afraid.
For now ye are nothing: ye see [my] casting down, and are afraid.
22 Have I asked you for anything? Have I told you to bribe anyone for me from your wealth?
Did I say, Bring to me? or Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 Have I asked you to rescue me from an enemy? Have I told you to save me from my oppressors?
Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Explain this to me, and I'll be quiet. Show me where I'm wrong.
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand in what I have erred.
25 Honest words are painful, but what do your arguments prove?
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26 Are you going to argue over what I said, when the words of someone in despair should be left to blow away in the wind?
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
27 You would play dice to win an orphan; you would bargain away your friend!
Yes, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
28 Look me in the eye and see if I'm lying to your face!
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident to you if I lie.
29 Don't talk like this! Don't be unjust! What I'm saying is right.
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yes, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
30 I'm not telling lies—don't you think I wouldn't know if I was wrong?”
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
