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 grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
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 sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
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 within me, the poison of which drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray in the midst of grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
Doth the wild donkey bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Can that which is unsavoury 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.
The things that my soul refused to touch are as my loathsome food.
8 O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!
O that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that 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!
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would 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.
Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed 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 hope? and 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 of brass?
13 Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!
Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.
To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that pass away;
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and in which the snow is hid:
17 As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up from their place.
In the time when they become warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed 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 way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came there, and were ashamed.
21 So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.
For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and 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? or, Give a reward for 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 enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from 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 tongue: and cause me to understand how I have erred.
25 How powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26 Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27 Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye dig a pit for your friend.
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
28 Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident to you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
