Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then Job answered and said,
2 O that my grief were weighed thoroughly! That my calamities were put together in the balance!
“Oh, if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!
3 Surely they would be heavier than the sand of the sea; On this account were my words rash.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. That is why my words were reckless.
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, my spirit drinks up the poison; the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray in the midst of grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 That which my soul abhorreth to touch Hath become my loathsome food.
I refuse to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.
8 O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!
Oh, that I might have my request; oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for:
9 That it would please God to destroy me; That he would let loose his hand, and make an end of me!
that it would please God to crush me once, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life!
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.
May this still be my consolation— even if I exult in pain that does not lessen: that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? And what mine end, that I should be patient?
What is my strength, that I should try to wait? What is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh brass?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?
13 Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!
Is it not true that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom has been driven out of me?
14 To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.
To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that pass away;
But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed, as channels of water that pass away to nothing,
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.
which are darkened because of ice over them, and because of the snow that hides itself in them.
17 As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up from their place.
When they thaw out, they vanish; when it is hot, they melt out of their place.
18 The caravans turn aside to them on their way; They go up into the desert, and perish.
The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water; they wander into barren land and then perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;
Caravans from Tema looked there, while companies of Sheba hoped in them.
20 They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.
They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water. They went there, but they were deceived.
21 So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.
For now you friends are nothing to me; you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.
22 Have I said, Bring me gifts? Or, Give a present for me out of your substance?
Did I say to you, 'Give something to me?' Or, 'Offer me a gift from your wealth?'
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? Or, Rescue me from the hand of the violent?
Or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand?' Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my oppressors?'
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; make me understand where I have been wrong.
25 How powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?
How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
26 Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.
Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?
27 Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye dig a pit for your friend.
Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child, and haggle over your friend like merchandise.
28 Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?
Now, therefore, please look at me, for surely I would not lie to your face.
29 Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.
Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.
30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?
Is there evil on my tongue? Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?
