Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said,
But Job answered and said,
2 “Oh, if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!
Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. That is why my words were reckless.
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 are in me, my spirit drinks up the poison; the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me.
For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt? Or 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 I refuse to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.
The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.
8 Oh, that I might have my request; oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for:
Oh 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 crush me once, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life!
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 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.
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 try to wait? What is my end, that I should prolong my life?
What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?
[Is] my strength the strength of stones? or [is] my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not true that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom has been driven out of me?
[Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 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.
To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed, as channels of water that pass away to nothing,
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 which are darkened because of ice over them, and because of the snow that hides itself in them.
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid:
17 When they thaw out, they vanish; when it is hot, they melt out of their place.
What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water; they wander into barren land and then perish.
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 Caravans from Tema looked there, while companies of Sheba hoped in them.
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water. They went there, but they were deceived.
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 For now you friends are nothing to me; you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.
For now ye are nothing; ye see [my] casting down, and are afraid.
22 Did I say to you, 'Give something to me?' Or, 'Offer me a gift from your wealth?'
Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 Or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand?' Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my oppressors?'
Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; make me understand where I have been wrong.
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26 Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
27 Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child, and haggle over your friend like merchandise.
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
28 Now, therefore, please look at me, for surely I would not lie to your face.
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident unto you if I lie.
29 Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
30 Is there evil on my tongue? Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
