Job 6

1 Then Job answered and said:

Then Job responded:

2 O that my grief were weighed thoroughly! That my calamities were put together in the balance!

“If my grief could be weighed and my troubles placed on the scales

3 Surely they would be heavier than the sand of the sea; On this account were my words rash.

they would be heavier than the sand of the sea. That's why I spoke so rashly.

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 Almighty are in me; their poison saps my spirit. God's terrors are lined up against me.

5 Doth the wild ass bray in the midst of grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Don't wild donkeys bray when their grass is gone? Don't cattle groan when they don't have food!

6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Can something that's tasteless be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 That which my soul abhorreth to touch Hath become my loathsome food.

I just can't touch any food—even the thought makes me feel sick!

8 O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!

Oh, if only I could have what I really want, that God would give me what I most desire—

9 That it would please God to destroy me; That he would let loose his hand, and make an end of me!

that God would be willing to crush me to death, that he would just let me die!

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.

But it still comforts me to know, making me happy through the never-ending pain, that I have never rejected the words of God.

11 What is my strength, that I should hope? And what mine end, that I should be patient?

Why should I go on waiting when I don't have the strength? Why should I keep going when I don't know what is going to happen to me?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh brass?

Am I as strong as rock? Am I made out of bronze?

13 Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!

How can I help myself now that any chance of success is ripped away from me?

14 To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.

Anyone who isn't kind to a friend has given up respecting the Almighty.

15 But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that pass away;

My brothers have acted as deceptively as a desert stream, rushing waters in the desert that vanish.

16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.

The stream floods when it is full of dark ice and melting snow,

17 As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up from their place.

but in the heat it dries up and disappears, vanishing from where it once was.

18 The caravans turn aside to them on their way; They go up into the desert, and perish.

Camel caravans turn aside to look for water, but don't find any and they die.

19 The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;

Caravans from Tema looked, travelers from Sheba were confident,

20 They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.

but their hopes were dashed—they came and found nothing.

21 So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.

Now you are no help, just like that—you see my trouble and you're afraid.

22 Have I said, Bring me gifts? Or, Give a present for me out of your substance?

Have I asked you for anything? Have I told you to bribe anyone for me from your wealth?

23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? Or, Rescue me from the hand of the violent?

Have I asked you to rescue me from an enemy? Have I told you to save me from my oppressors?

24 Convince me, and I will hold my peace; Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Explain this to me, and I'll be quiet. Show me where I'm wrong.

25 How powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?

Honest words are painful, but what do your arguments prove?

26 Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.

Are you going to argue over what I said, when the words of someone in despair should be left to blow away in the wind?

27 Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye dig a pit for your friend.

You would play dice to win an orphan; you would bargain away your friend!

28 Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?

Look me in the eye and see if I'm lying to your face!

29 Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.

Don't talk like this! Don't be unjust! What I'm saying is right.

30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?

I'm not telling lies—don't you think I wouldn't know if I was wrong?”