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!
O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance.
3 For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, Therefore my words have been rash.
As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore 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, the rage whereof drinketh up my spirit, and the terrors of the Lord war 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 hath grass? or will the ox low when he standeth before a full manger?
6 Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with salt? or can a man taste that which when tasted bringeth death?
7 My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for?
9 That God would please—and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?
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 that this may be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not, nor I 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 can hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?
My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.
13 Is my help not with me, And substance driven from me?
Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.
14 To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.
He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
15 My brothers have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.
16 That are black because of ice, By them snow hides itself.
They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon 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 the time when they shall be scattered they shall perish: and after it groweth hot they shall be melted out of 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 shall walk in vain, and shall 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 are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.
21 Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.
Now you are come: and now 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 me of your substance?
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?
Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty?
24 Show me, and I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what reproof from you reproves?
Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me?
26 For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?
You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.
27 You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, And are strange to your friend.
You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.
28 And now, please, look on me, Even to your face do I lie?
However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.
29 Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.
Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.
30 Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”
And you shall not And iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.
