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!
Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.
And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.
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 my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his 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 Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?
Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
7 My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.
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 have my request, 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 Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!
Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
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.
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 is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?
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 brass?
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?
Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] 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.
Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,
My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;
They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish, when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
18 The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.
Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them —
Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
20 They were ashamed because they had hoped; they came thither, and were confounded.
They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
21 For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.
But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
22 Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?
What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,
23 or: 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? or: 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors'?
to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?
But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.
26 Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?
Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
27 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.
But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?
For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
