Job 6
1 But Job answered and said,
And Job made answer and said,
2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison of which drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
Does the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?
6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? or is there [any] taste in the white of an egg?
Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?
7 The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful food.
My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!
If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yes, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One.
11 What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] my end, that I should prolong my life?
Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?
12 [Is] my strength the strength of stones? or [is] my flesh of brass?
Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?
13 [Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me.
14 To him that is afflicted pity [should be shown] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] in which the snow is hid:
Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them;
17 In the time when they become warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone.
21 For now ye are nothing: ye see [my] casting down, and are afraid.
So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.
22 Did I say, Bring to me? or Give a reward for me of your substance?
Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand in what I have erred.
Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.
27 Yes, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident to you if I lie.
Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yes, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?
