Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said:
But Job answered, and said:
2 Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!
O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance.
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.
As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow:
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh up; the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
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.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
Will the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or will the ox low when he standeth before a full manger?
6 Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?
Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with salt? or can a man taste that which when tasted bringeth death?
7 My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.
The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for?
9 Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!
And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
And that this may be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not, nor I contradict the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?
For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.
13 Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?
Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.
14 To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,
My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;
They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them.
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
At the time when they shall be scattered they shall perish: and after it groweth hot they shall be melted out of their place.
18 The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.
The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them —
Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
20 They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.
They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.
21 For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.
Now you are come: and now seeing my affliction you are afraid.
22 Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?
Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance?
23 or: 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?
Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?
Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me?
26 Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?
You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.
27 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.
However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?
And you shall not And iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.
