Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said,
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 “Oh, if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!
O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. That is why my words were reckless.
For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
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 arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!
5 Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?
Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
6 Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
7 I refuse to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.
My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
8 Oh, that I might have my request; oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for:
O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9 that it would please God to crush me once, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life!
That God would please — and bruise me, 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.
And yet it is my comfort, (And I exult in pain — He doth not spare, ) That I have not hidden The sayings 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 power that I should hope? And what 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? Is my flesh brazen?
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 with me, And substance driven 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 a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
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 deceived as a brook, As a 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.
That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.
17 When they thaw out, they vanish; when it is hot, they melt out of their place.
By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
18 The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water; they wander into barren land and then perish.
Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19 Caravans from Tema looked there, while companies of Sheba hoped in them.
Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water. They went there, but they were deceived.
They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.
21 For now you friends are nothing to me; you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.
Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.
22 Did I say to you, 'Give something to me?' Or, 'Offer me a gift from your wealth?'
Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23 Or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand?' Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my oppressors?'
And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; make me understand where I have been wrong.
Shew me, and I — I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25 How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?
26 Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?
For reproof — do you reckon words? And for wind — sayings of the desperate.
27 Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child, and haggle over your friend like merchandise.
Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.
28 Now, therefore, please look at me, for surely I would not lie to your face.
And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?
29 Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.
Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again — my righteousness [is] in it.
30 Is there evil on my tongue? Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?
Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?
