Job 6
1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,
But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my griefe were well weighed, and my miseries were layed together in the balance.
Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!
3 For it woulde be nowe heauier then the sande of the sea: therefore my wordes are swallowed vp.
And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.
4 For the arrowes of the Almightie are in me, the venime whereof doeth drinke vp my spirit, and the terrours of God fight against me.
For the arrows of the Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.
5 Doeth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe when he hath fodder?
What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has a fodder?
6 That which is vnsauerie, shall it be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge?
Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
7 Such things as my soule refused to touch, as were sorowes, are my meate.
For my wrath can’t cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.
8 Oh that I might haue my desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!
9 That is, that God would destroy me: that he would let his hand go, and cut me off.
Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
10 Then should I yet haue comfort, (though I burne with sorowe, let him not spare) because I haue not denyed the wordes of the Holy one.
Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leaped: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.
11 What power haue I that I should endure? or what is mine end, if I should prolong my life?
For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brasse?
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not so, that there is in me no helpe? and that strength is taken from me?
Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.
14 He that is in miserie, ought to be comforted of his neighbour: but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie.
Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
15 My brethre haue deceiued me as a brook, and as the rising of the riuers they passe away.
My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
16 Which are blackish with yee, and wherein the snowe is hid.
They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
17 But in time they are dryed vp with heate and are consumed: and when it is hote they faile out of their places,
When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
18 Or they depart from their way and course, yea, they vanish and perish.
Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
19 They that go to Tema, considered them, and they that goe to Sheba, waited for them.
Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
20 But they were confounded: when they hoped, they came thither and were ashamed.
They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
21 Surely nowe are ye like vnto it: ye haue seene my fearefull plague, and are afraide.
But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
22 Was it because I said, Bring vnto me? or giue a rewarde to me of your substance?
What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,
23 And deliuer me from the enemies hande, or ransome me out of the hand of tyrants?
to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
24 Teach me, and I wil hold my tongue: and cause me to vnderstande, wherein I haue erred.
Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.
25 Howe stedfast are the wordes of righteousnes? and what can any of you iustly reproue?
But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.
26 Doe ye imagine to reproue wordes, that the talke of the afflicted should be as the winde?
Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
27 Ye make your wrath to fall vpon the fatherlesse, and dig a pit for your friende.
Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
28 Nowe therefore be content to looke vpon me: for I will not lie before your face.
But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
29 Turne, I pray you, let there be none iniquitie: returne, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousnesse in that behalfe.
Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
30 Is there iniquitie in my tongue? doeth not my mouth feele sorowes?
For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
