Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said:
But Job answered, and said:
2 O that my grief were weighed thoroughly! That my calamities were put together in the balance!
O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance.
3 Surely they would be heavier than the sand of the sea; On this account were my words rash.
As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow:
4 For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; Their poison drinketh up my spirit; The terrors of God set themselves in array against 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 Doth the wild ass bray in the midst of grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
Will the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or will the ox low when he standeth before a full manger?
6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
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 That which my soul abhorreth to touch Hath become my loathsome food.
The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.
8 O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!
Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for?
9 That it would please God to destroy me; That he would let loose his hand, and make an end of me!
And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?
10 Yet it should still be my consolation, Yea, in unsparing anguish I would exult, That I have not denied the commands 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 strength, that I should hope? And what mine end, that I should be patient?
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? Or is my flesh brass?
My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.
13 Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!
Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.
14 To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.
He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
15 But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that pass away;
My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.
They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them.
17 As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up 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 caravans turn aside to them on their way; They go up into the desert, and perish.
The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;
Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
20 They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.
They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.
21 So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.
Now you are come: and now seeing my affliction you are afraid.
22 Have I said, Bring me gifts? Or, Give a present for me out of your substance?
Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? Or, Rescue me from the hand of the violent?
Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty?
24 Convince me, and I will hold my peace; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.
25 How powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?
Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me?
26 Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.
You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.
27 Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye dig a pit for your friend.
You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.
28 Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?
However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.
29 Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.
Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.
30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?
And you shall not And iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.
