Job 6
1 And Job answereth and saith: —
Then Job replied:
2 O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.
3 For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been rash.
4 For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!
For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?
6 Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
7 My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:
9 That God would please — and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!
10 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.
It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What [is] my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?
What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?
Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
13 Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?
Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?
14 To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,
16 That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.
darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,
17 By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.
18 Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.
19 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
20 They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.
They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.
21 Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.
For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.
22 Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?
deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?
24 Shew me, and I — I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?
How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?
26 For reproof — do you reckon words? And for wind — sayings of the desperate.
Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?
27 Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.
You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.
28 And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?
But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?
29 Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again — my righteousness [is] in it.
Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.
30 Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?
Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?
