Job 6
1 Then Job spoke again, saying [to Eliphaz],
Then Job replied:
2 “If all my troubles and misery could be put on a scale and weighed,
“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.
3 they would be heavier than all the sands [on the shores] of the oceans. That is why I spoke (very rashly/without thinking clearly) [about the day that I was born].
For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been rash.
4 [It is as though] Almighty [God] has shot me with arrows. [It is as though] those arrows had poison on their tips, and that poison has gone into my spirit. The things that God has done to me have terrified me.
For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Just like a wild donkey does not [complain by] braying when it has plenty of grass to eat, and an ox does not [complain by] bellowing when it has food to eat [MET], [I would not complain if you were really helping/comforting me].
Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?
6 People complain [RHQ] when they must eat food which has no salt or other tasteless food [MET], [and that is what your words are like, Eliphaz].
Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
7 Just like I do not want to eat food [like that], and I loathe/detests that kind of food [MET], [I do not appreciate what you have said to me].
My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
8 “I wish that God would do for me what I have requested from him [DOU].
If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:
9 I wish that he would crush me [and let me die]. I wish that he would reach out his hand and take away my life.
that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!
10 If he would do that, I would be comforted by knowing that in spite of the great pain that I have suffered, I have always obeyed what [God, ] the Holy One, has commanded.
It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 But now I do not have [RHQ] enough strength to endure all these things. And since I have nothing [to hope for] in (the future/this life), it is difficult for me to be patient now [RHQ].
What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?
12 I am not [RHQ] strong like rocks are, and my body is not made of bronze.
Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
13 So I am not able to help myself, and [it seems that] there is no one to rescue me.”
Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?
14 “When a man has many troubles, his friends should be kind to him, even if he stops revering Almighty [God].
A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 But [you, ] my friends, are not dependable. You are like streams: They spill over their banks [in the spring]
But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,
16 when [the melting] ice and snow make those streams overflow,
darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,
17 but when the dry season comes, there is no water flowing [in those streams], and the channels dry up.
but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
18 [The caravans of merchants] turn off the path [to search for some water], but there is no water, so they die [in the desert].
Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.
19 The men in those caravans search [for some water] because they are sure that they will find some.
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
20 But they do not find any, so they are very disappointed.
They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.
21 Similarly, you friends have not helped me at all! You have seen that terrible things have happened to me, and you are afraid [that God might do similar things to you].
For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
22 [After I lost all my wealth, ] did I ask any of you for money? [RHQ] Did I plead with any of you to spend some of your money to help me [RHQ]?
Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;
23 Have I asked any of you to rescue me from my enemies [RHQ]? Have I asked you to save me from those who (oppressed me/treated me badly) [RHQ]? [No!]”
deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?
24 “Answer me [now, and then] I will be quiet; tell me what wrong things I have done!
Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
25 When people speak what is true, that will not hurt the person who hears it, but what you say, criticizing me, [is not true, so your saying it] proves nothing [RHQ]!
How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
26 I am a man who has nothing to hope for, but you try to correct me, and you think what I say is nothing but wind [RHQ]!
Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
27 You do not sympathize with me at all [for all that I am suffering]. [You are heartless!] You would even gamble to see who gets an orphan [as a prize]!
You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.
28 Please look at me! I will not [RHQ] lie to you.
But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?
29 Stop [saying that I have sinned, and] stop criticizing me unjustly! You should realize that I have not done things that are wrong.
Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.
30 Do you think that I am lying? No, I am not lying, because I know what is right and what is wrong [RHQ].”
Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?
