Job 6
1 Then Job answered,
And Job answers and says:
2 “Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
“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, therefore my words have been rash.
For now it is heavier than the sands of the sea, Therefore my words have been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set 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 when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
Does a wild donkey bray over tender grass? Does an ox low over his provender?
6 Can that which has no flavour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Is an insipid thing eaten without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
7 My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.
My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
8 “Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,
O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9 even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
That God would please—and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
10 Let it still be my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
And yet it is my comfort (And I exult in pain—He does not spare), That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
What [is] my power that I should hope? And what [is] my end that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh bronze?
13 Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?
Is my help not with me, And substance driven from me?
14 “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from 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 forsakes.
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;
My brothers have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
16 which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.
That are black because of ice, By them snow hides itself.
17 In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed 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 beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish.
The paths turn aside of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19 The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.
They were ashamed that one has trusted, They have come to it and are confounded.
21 For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
Surely now you have become the same! You see a downfall, and are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?
Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23 or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?
And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, Ransom me from the hand of terrible ones?
24 “Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.
Show me, and I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
How powerful have been upright sayings, And what reproof from you reproves?
26 Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
For reproof—do you reckon words? And for wind—sayings of the desperate?
27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
You cause anger to fall on the fatherless, And are strange to your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.
And now, please, look on me, Even to your face do I lie?
29 Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.
Please turn back, let it not be perverseness, Indeed, turn back again—my righteousness [is] in it.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
Is there perverseness in my tongue? Does my palate not discern calamity?”
