Job 6
1 And Job answers and says:
Then answered Job, and said,
2 “O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
Oh that my vexation could be truly weighed, and my calamity; oh that men might lift it up in the balances at once!
3 For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, Therefore my words have been rash.
For now it is already heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore are my words confused.
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 Almighty are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh it: the terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?
Doth the wild ass bray over the grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
Is ever tasteless food eaten without salt? or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?
7 My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
My soul refuseth to touch them: they are unto me like disgusting food.
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
Oh that some one would grant the accomplishment of my request; and that God would grant me the fulfillment of my hope!
9 That God would please—and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
Yea, that it would please God that he might crush me: that he would let loose his hand, and make an end of 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.
Then would this be still my comfort; yea, I would rejoice in my pain while be would not spare: that I have not gainsaid the commands of the Holy One.—
11 What [is] my power that I should hope? And what [is] my end that I should prolong my life?
What is my strength, that I should wait? and what my end, that I should yet longer retain my patience?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?
Is the strength of stones my strength? or is my flesh brazen?
13 Is my help not with me, And substance driven from me?
Truly, am I not without my help in me? and is not wise counsel driven far away from me?
14 To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsakes.
As though I were one who refuseth kindness to his friend, and forsaketh the fear of the Almighty:
15 My brothers have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
My brothers are treacherous as a brook, like flowing brooks they pass along;
16 That are black because of ice, By them snow hides itself.
Which are made turbid by reason of the ice, wherein the snow hideth itself;
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 feel the warmth, they vanish; when it is hot, they are quenched out of their place.
18 The paths turn aside of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
The paths of their course wind themselves along; they go in the wilderness and are lost.
19 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
The caravans of Thema look hither, the travelling companies Sheba hope for them;
20 They were ashamed that one has trusted, They have come to it and are confounded.
But they stand ashamed because they had trusted; they come thither and are made to blush.
21 Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.
For truly now ye are like such a one: ye see my terrible state and are afraid.
22 Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
Have I then ever said, Give me something, and out of your property offer a bribe in my behalf?
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?
And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? and redeem from the hand of tyrants?
24 Show me, and I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
Teach me, and I will indeed remain silent; and wherein I erred give me to understand.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what reproof from you reproves?
How pleasant are straightforward words! but what doth arguing prove?
26 For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?
Do ye think to reprove words, and [to regard] as wind the speeches of one that is despairing?
27 You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, And are strange to your friend.
Yea, ye would cast any thing upon the fatherless, and ye would dig a pit against your friend.
28 And now, please, look on me, Even to your face do I lie?
But now, if it please you, turn yourselves toward me, and [say] whether I would lie before your face.
29 Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.
Reflect again, I pray you, there will be no wrong: yea, reflect once more, my righteousness [will be found] therein.
30 Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”
Is there any wrong on my tongue? or should my palate not understand [if I spoke] what is iniquitous?
