Job 6
1 Then Job answered,
And Job answered and said,
2 “Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore my words have been rash.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
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 the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.
What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
8 “Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,
Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
9 even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let 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.
Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words 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 strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?
Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
13 Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?
Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away 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.
For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
16 which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.
Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
17 In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
18 The caravans that travel beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish.
They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
20 They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.
They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
21 For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?
Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
23 or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?
Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
24 “Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
26 Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.
Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
29 Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.
Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
