< Job 6 >

1 Then Job answered,
וַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃
2 "Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances.
ל֗וּ שָׁק֣וֹל יִשָּׁקֵ֣ל כַּעְשִׂ֑י והיתי בְּֽמֹאזְנַ֥יִם יִשְׂאוּ־יָֽחַד׃
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.
כִּֽי־עַתָּ֗ה מֵח֣וֹל יַמִּ֣ים יִכְבָּ֑ד עַל־כֵּ֝֗ן דְּבָרַ֥י לָֽעוּ׃
4 For the arrows of Shaddai are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
כִּ֤י חִצֵּ֪י שַׁדַּ֡י עִמָּדִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֲ֭מָתָם שֹׁתָ֣ה רוּחִ֑י בִּעוּתֵ֖י אֱל֣וֹהַּ יַֽעַרְכֽוּנִי׃
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
הֲיִֽנְהַק־פֶּ֥רֶא עֲלֵי־דֶ֑שֶׁא אִ֥ם יִגְעֶה־שּׁ֝֗וֹר עַל־בְּלִילֽוֹ׃
6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
הֲיֵאָכֵ֣ל תָּ֭פֵל מִבְּלִי־מֶ֑לַח אִם־יֶשׁ־טַ֝֗עַם בְּרִ֣יר חַלָּמֽוּת׃
7 My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.
מֵאֲנָ֣ה לִנְגּ֣וֹעַ נַפְשִׁ֑י הֵ֝֗מָּה כִּדְוֵ֥י לַחְמִֽי׃
8 "Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,
מִֽי־יִ֭תֵּן תָּב֣וֹא שֶֽׁאֱלָתִ֑י וְ֝תִקְוָתִ֗י יִתֵּ֥ן אֱלֽוֹהַּ׃
9 even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off.
וְיֹאֵ֣ל אֱ֭לוֹהַּ וִֽידַכְּאֵ֑נִי יַתֵּ֥ר יָ֝ד֗וֹ וִֽיבַצְּעֵֽנִי׃
10 Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
וּ֥תְהִי ע֨וֹד ׀ נֶ֘חָ֤מָתִ֗י וַאֲסַלְּדָ֣ה בְ֭חִילָה לֹ֣א יַחְמ֑וֹל כִּי־לֹ֥א כִ֝חַ֗דְתִּי אִמְרֵ֥י קָדֽוֹשׁ׃
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
מַה־כֹּחִ֥י כִֽי־אֲיַחֵ֑ל וּמַה־קִּ֝צִּ֗י כִּֽי־אַאֲרִ֥יךְ נַפְשִֽׁי׃
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?
אִם־כֹּ֣חַ אֲבָנִ֣ים כֹּחִ֑י אִֽם־בְּשָׂרִ֥י נָחֽוּשׁ׃
13 Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?
הַאִ֬ם אֵ֣ין עֶזְרָתִ֣י בִ֑י וְ֝תֻשִׁיָּ֗ה נִדְּחָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
14 "To the despairing, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of Shaddai.
לַמָּ֣ס מֵרֵעֵ֣הוּ חָ֑סֶד וְיִרְאַ֖ת שַׁדַּ֣י יַעֲזֽוֹב׃
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;
אַ֭חַי בָּגְד֣וּ כְמוֹ־נָ֑חַל כַּאֲפִ֖יק נְחָלִ֣ים יַעֲבֹֽרוּ׃
16 Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.
הַקֹּדְרִ֥ים מִנִּי־קָ֑רַח עָ֝לֵ֗ימוֹ יִתְעַלֶּם־שָֽׁלֶג ׃
17 In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
בְּ֭עֵת יְזֹרְב֣וּ נִצְמָ֑תוּ בְּ֝חֻמּ֗וֹ נִדְעֲכ֥וּ מִמְּקוֹמָֽם׃
18 The caravans that travel beside them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.
יִ֭לָּ֣פְתוּ אָרְח֣וֹת דַּרְכָּ֑ם יַעֲל֖וּ בַתֹּ֣הוּ וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃
19 The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
הִ֭בִּיטוּ אָרְח֣וֹת תֵּמָ֑א הֲלִיכֹ֥ת שְׁ֝בָ֗א קִוּוּ־לָֽמוֹ׃
20 They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.
בֹּ֥שׁוּ כִּֽי־בָטָ֑ח בָּ֥אוּ עָ֝דֶ֗יהָ וַיֶּחְפָּֽרוּ׃
21 For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
כִּֽי־עַ֭תָּה הֱיִ֣יתֶם לא תִּֽרְא֥וּ חֲ֝תַ֗ת וַתִּירָֽאוּ׃
22 Did I say, 'Give to me?' or, 'Offer a present for me from your substance?'
הֲֽכִי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי הָ֣בוּ לִ֑י וּ֝מִכֹּחֲכֶ֗ם שִׁחֲד֥וּ בַעֲדִֽי׃
23 or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand?' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?'
וּמַלְּט֥וּנִי מִיַּד־צָ֑ר וּמִיַּ֖ד עָרִיצִ֣ים תִּפְדּֽוּנִי׃
24 "Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
ה֭וֹרוּנִי וַאֲנִ֣י אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ וּמַה־שָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִי הָבִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃
25 How forcible are words of uprightness. But your reproof, what does it reprove?
מַה־נִּמְרְצ֥וּ אִמְרֵי־יֹ֑שֶׁר וּמַה־יּוֹכִ֖יחַ הוֹכֵ֣חַ מִכֶּֽם׃
26 Do you intend to reprove words, seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
הַלְהוֹכַ֣ח מִלִּ֣ים תַּחְשֹׁ֑בוּ וּ֝לְר֗וּחַ אִמְרֵ֥י נֹאָֽשׁ׃
27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
אַף־עַל־יָת֥וֹם תַּפִּ֑ילוּ וְ֝תִכְר֗וּ עַל־רֵֽיעֲכֶֽם׃
28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.
וְ֭עַתָּה הוֹאִ֣ילוּ פְנוּ־בִ֑י וְעַל־פְּ֝נֵיכֶ֗ם אִם־אֲכַזֵּֽב׃
29 Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.
שֻֽׁבוּ־נָ֭א אַל־תְּהִ֣י עַוְלָ֑ה ושבי ע֝וֹד צִדְקִי־בָֽהּ׃
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Can't my taste discern mischievous things?
הֲיֵשׁ־בִּלְשׁוֹנִ֥י עַוְלָ֑ה אִם־חִ֝כִּ֗י לֹא־יָבִ֥ין הַוּֽוֹת׃

< Job 6 >