Job 6

1 Then Job answered and said:

Then Job responded:

2 Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!

“If my grief could be weighed and my troubles placed on the scales

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.

they would be heavier than the sand of the sea. That's why I spoke so rashly.

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 Almighty are in me; their poison saps my spirit. God's terrors are lined up against me.

5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Don't wild donkeys bray when their grass is gone? Don't cattle groan when they don't have food!

6 Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?

Can something that's tasteless be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.

I just can't touch any food—even the thought makes me feel sick!

8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Oh, if only I could have what I really want, that God would give me what I most desire—

9 Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!

that God would be willing to crush me to death, that he would just let me die!

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.

But it still comforts me to know, making me happy through the never-ending pain, that I have never rejected the words of God.

11 What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?

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?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

Am I as strong as rock? Am I made out of bronze?

13 Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?

How can I help myself now that any chance of success is ripped away 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.

Anyone who isn't kind to a friend has given up respecting the Almighty.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,

My brothers have acted as deceptively as a desert stream, rushing waters in the desert that vanish.

16 Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;

The stream floods when it is full of dark ice and melting snow,

17 What time they wax warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

but in the heat it dries up and disappears, vanishing from where it once was.

18 The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.

Camel caravans turn aside to look for water, but don't find any and they die.

19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them —

Caravans from Tema looked, travelers from Sheba were confident,

20 They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.

but their hopes were dashed—they came and found nothing.

21 For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.

Now you are no help, just like that—you see my trouble and you're afraid.

22 Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?

Have I asked you for anything? Have I told you to bribe anyone for me from your wealth?

23 or: 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?

Have I asked you to rescue me from an enemy? Have I told you to save me from my oppressors?

24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Explain this to me, and I'll be quiet. Show me where I'm wrong.

25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?

Honest words are painful, but what do your arguments prove?

26 Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?

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?

27 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.

You would play dice to win an orphan; you would bargain away your friend!

28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.

Look me in the eye and see if I'm lying to your face!

29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

Don't talk like this! Don't be unjust! What I'm saying is right.

30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?

I'm not telling lies—don't you think I wouldn't know if I was wrong?”