Job 6
1 But Job answered and said,
And Job answered and said,
2 Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!
Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
4 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.
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 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?
Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
6 Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 For my wrath can’t cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.
What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
8 For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!
Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
9 Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10 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.
Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?
What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
13 Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.
Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
14 Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
16 They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
17 When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
18 Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
19 Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
20 They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
21 But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
22 What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,
Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
23 to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
24 Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.
How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
26 Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
27 Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
28 But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
29 Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
30 For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
