Job 6
1 And Job answers and says:
But Job, responding, said:
2 “O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
I wish that my sins, for which I deserve wrath, and the calamity that I endure, were weighed out on a balance.
3 For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, Therefore my words have been rash.
Compared to the sand of the sea, they would appear heavier, and so my words are full of sorrow.
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 me, my spirit drinks of their indignation, and the terrors of the Lord are soldiers against me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?
Will the wild ass bray when he has grass? Or will the ox bellow when he stands before a full manger?
6 Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
Or can one eat bland food, which is not seasoned with salt? Or can anyone taste that which, if tasted, causes death?
7 My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
The things that my soul was unwilling to touch before, now, because of anguish, are my foods.
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
Who will grant that my petition may arrive and that God may bestow on me what I expect,
9 That God would please—and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
and that he who, at first, had crushed me, will let loose his hand and cut me down?
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.
And may this be my consolation, that in afflicting me with sorrow, although he might not be lenient with me, I still do not contradict the words of the Holy One.
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 may continue? Or what is my goal, so that I may act patiently?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?
My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh made of bronze.
13 Is my help not with me, And substance driven from me?
Behold, there is no help for me in myself, and my loved ones also have withdrawn from me.
14 To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.
He who takes away mercy from his friend, abandons the fear of the Lord.
15 My brothers have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
My brethren have disregarded me, like a torrent that passes swiftly through the steep valleys.
16 That are black because of ice, By them snow hides itself.
Those who fear frost, snow will rush over them.
17 By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
At that time, when they are scattered, they will perish, and when it becomes hot, they will be freed from their place.
18 The paths turn aside of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
The paths of their steps are entangled; they will walk in vain and will perish.
19 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
20 They were ashamed that one has trusted, They have come to it and are confounded.
They have been thrown into confusion, just as I had hoped; they have even come to me and are overwhelmed with shame.
21 Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.
Now you have arrived, and merely by seeing my affliction, you are afraid.
22 Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
Did I say: “Bring to me and give to me from your necessities?”
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?
or, “Free me from the hand of the enemy and rescue me from the hand of the strong?”
24 Show me, and I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
Teach me, and I will be silent, and if by chance I have been ignorant of anything, instruct me.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what reproof from you reproves?
Why have you diminished the words of truth, when there is none of you who is able to offer proof against me?
26 For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?
You prepare speeches as so much noise, and you offer words into the wind.
27 You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, And are strange to your friend.
You encroach upon the orphan, and you strive to undermine your friend.
28 And now, please, look on me, Even to your face do I lie?
Such is true, so finish what you have begun. Listen closely, and see if I lie.
29 Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.
Respond, I beg you, without contention, and, speaking what is just, pass judgment.
30 Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”
And you will not find iniquity on my tongue, nor will foolishness resound in my throat.
