Job 6
1 But Job answered and said,
But 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 throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
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 sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
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, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array 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 when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or 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.
The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.
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 [me] the thing that I long for!
9 Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
Even that it would please God to destroy 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; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed 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 prolong my life?
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 Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.
[Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but 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 brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid:
17 When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
For now ye are nothing; ye see [my] casting down, 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? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
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 arguing 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, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
27 Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
28 But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident unto you if I lie.
29 Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
30 For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
