Job 6
1 Then responded Job, and said: —
But Job answered, and said:
2 Oh that, weighed, were my vexation, and, my engulfing ruin—into the balances, they would lift up all at once!
O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance.
3 For, now, beyond the sand of the seas, would it be heavy, On this account, my words, have wandered.
As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow:
4 For, the arrows of the Almighty, are in me, The heat whereof, my spirit is drinking up, The, terrors of GOD, array themselves 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 over 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 hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or 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 My soul hath refused to touch, Those things, are like disease in my food.
The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats.
8 Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!
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 crush me, That he would set free his hand, and cut me off!
And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off?
10 So might it still be my comfort, And I might exult in the anguish he would not spare, —That I had not concealed the sayings 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? Or what mine end, that I should prolong my desire?
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, of bronze?
My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh of brass.
13 Is there any help at all in me? Is not, abiding success, driven from me?
Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.
14 The despairing, from his friend, should have lovingkindness, or, the reverence of the Almighty, he may forsake.
He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of the Lord.
15 Mine own brethren, have proved treacherous like a torrent, like a channel of torrents which disappear:
My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.
16 Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:
They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them.
17 By the time they begin to thaw, they are dried up, as soon as it is warm, they have vanished out of 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 Caravans turn aside by their course, they go up into a waste, and are lost:
The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked about, the travelling companies of Sheba, hoped for them:
Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
20 They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.
They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.
21 For, now, ye have come to him, ye see something fearful, and fear.
Now you are come: and now seeing my affliction you are afraid.
22 Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;
Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance?
23 And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And, out of the hand of tyrants, ransom me?
Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty?
24 Show me, and, I, will hold my peace, And, wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.
Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me.
25 How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?
Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me?
26 To decide words, do ye intend, When, to the wind, are spoken the sayings of one in despair?
You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind.
27 Surely, the fatherless, ye would assail, and make merchandise of your friend!
You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.
28 But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,
However finish what you have begun, give ear, and see whether I lie.
29 Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!
Answer, I beseech you, without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.
30 Is there, in my tongue, perversity? Or can, my sense, not discern, engulfing ruin?
And you shall not And iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.
