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!
Oh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!
3 For, now, beyond the sand of the seas, would it be heavy, On this account, my words, have wandered.
And verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.
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 my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray over grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
What then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has a fodder?
6 Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Shall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?
7 My soul hath refused to touch, Those things, are like disease in my food.
For my wrath can’t cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion [to be] loathsome.
8 Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!
For oh that he would grant [my desire], and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!
9 That it would please GOD to crush me, That he would set free his hand, and cut me off!
Let the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.
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.
Let the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leaped: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.
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 continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?
12 Is my strength, the strength of stones? Or is, my flesh, of bronze?
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is there any help at all in me? Is not, abiding success, driven from me?
Or have I not trusted in him? but help is [far] from me.
14 The despairing, from his friend, should have lovingkindness, or, the reverence of the Almighty, he may forsake.
Mercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.
15 Mine own brethren, have proved treacherous like a torrent, like a channel of torrents which disappear:
My nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.
16 Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:
They who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.
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.
When it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.
18 Caravans turn aside by their course, they go up into a waste, and are lost:
Thus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.
19 The caravans of Tema looked about, the travelling companies of Sheba, hoped for them:
Behold the ways of the Thaemanites, you that mark the paths of the Sabaeans.
20 They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.
They too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.
21 For, now, ye have come to him, ye see something fearful, and fear.
But you also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound you are afraid.
22 Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;
What? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,
23 And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And, out of the hand of tyrants, ransom me?
to deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?
24 Show me, and, I, will hold my peace, And, wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.
Teach you me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.
25 How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?
But as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.
26 To decide words, do ye intend, When, to the wind, are spoken the sayings of one in despair?
Neither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.
27 Surely, the fatherless, ye would assail, and make merchandise of your friend!
Even because you attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.
28 But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,
But now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.
29 Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!
Sit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.
30 Is there, in my tongue, perversity? Or can, my sense, not discern, engulfing ruin?
For there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?
