Job 6
1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,
Then Job spoke again, saying [to Eliphaz],
2 Oh that my griefe were well weighed, and my miseries were layed together in the balance.
“If all my troubles and misery could be put on a scale and weighed,
3 For it woulde be nowe heauier then the sande of the sea: therefore my wordes are swallowed vp.
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 arrowes of the Almightie are in me, the venime whereof doeth drinke vp my spirit, and the terrours of God fight 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 Doeth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe when he hath fodder?
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 That which is vnsauerie, shall it be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge?
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 Such things as my soule refused to touch, as were sorowes, are my meate.
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 Oh that I might haue my desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
“I wish that God would do for me what I have requested from him [DOU].
9 That is, that God would destroy me: that he would let his hand go, 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 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.
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 What power haue I that I should endure? or what is mine end, if I should prolong my life?
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 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brasse?
I am not [RHQ] strong like rocks are, and my body is not made of bronze.
13 Is it not so, that there is in me no helpe? and that strength is taken from me?
So I am not able to help myself, and [it seems that] there is no one to rescue me.”
14 He that is in miserie, ought to be comforted of his neighbour: but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie.
“When a man has many troubles, his friends should be kind to him, even if he stops revering Almighty [God].
15 My brethre haue deceiued me as a brook, and as the rising of the riuers they passe away.
But [you, ] my friends, are not dependable. You are like streams: They spill over their banks [in the spring]
16 Which are blackish with yee, and wherein the snowe is hid.
when [the melting] ice and snow make those streams overflow,
17 But in time they are dryed vp with heate and are consumed: and when it is hote they faile out of their places,
but when the dry season comes, there is no water flowing [in those streams], and the channels dry up.
18 Or they depart from their way and course, yea, they vanish and 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 They that go to Tema, considered them, and they that goe to Sheba, waited for them.
The men in those caravans search [for some water] because they are sure that they will find some.
20 But they were confounded: when they hoped, they came thither and were ashamed.
But they do not find any, so they are very disappointed.
21 Surely nowe are ye like vnto it: ye haue seene my fearefull plague, and are afraide.
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 Was it because I said, Bring vnto me? or giue a rewarde to 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 And deliuer me from the enemies hande, or ransome me out of the hand of tyrants?
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 wil hold my tongue: and cause me to vnderstande, wherein I haue erred.
“Answer me [now, and then] I will be quiet; tell me what wrong things I have done!
25 Howe stedfast are the wordes of righteousnes? and what can any of you iustly reproue?
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 Doe ye imagine to reproue wordes, that the talke of the afflicted should be as the winde?
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 Ye make your wrath to fall vpon the fatherlesse, and dig a pit for your friende.
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 Nowe therefore be content to looke vpon me: for I will not lie before your face.
Please look at me! I will not [RHQ] lie to you.
29 Turne, I pray you, let there be none iniquitie: returne, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousnesse in that behalfe.
Stop [saying that I have sinned, and] stop criticizing me unjustly! You should realize that I have not done things that are wrong.
30 Is there iniquitie in my tongue? doeth not my mouth feele sorowes?
Do you think that I am lying? No, I am not lying, because I know what is right and what is wrong [RHQ].”
