Job 6
1 And Job answers and says:
But Job answered and said,
2 “O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
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 is heavier than the sands of the sea, Therefore my words have been rash.
And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.
4 For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] 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 Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?
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 Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
7 My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
For my wrath can’t cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!
9 That God would please—and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
10 And yet it is my comfort (And I exult in pain—He does not spare), That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.
Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leapt: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.
11 What [is] my power that I should hope? And what [is] my end that I should prolong my life?
For what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is my help not with me, And substance driven from me?
Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.
14 To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.
Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
15 My brothers have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
16 That are black because of ice, By them snow hides itself.
They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
17 By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
18 The paths turn aside of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
19 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
20 They were ashamed that one has trusted, They have come to it and are confounded.
They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
21 Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.
But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
22 Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?
to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
24 Show me, and I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what reproof from you reproves?
But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.
26 For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?
Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
27 You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, And are strange to your friend.
Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
28 And now, please, look on me, Even to your face do I lie?
But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
29 Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.
Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
30 Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”
For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
