Job 6
1 And Job answereth and saith: —
Then Job answered,
2 O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
“Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore 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 are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
5 Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
6 Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste 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 as loathsome food to me.
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
“Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,
9 That God would please — and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose 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.
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.
11 What [is] my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?
What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?
13 Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?
Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?
14 To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.
which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.
17 By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
The caravans that travel beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.
They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.
21 Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.
For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?
or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?
24 Shew me, and I — I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?
How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
26 For reproof — do you reckon words? And for wind — sayings of the desperate.
Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
27 Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.
Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
28 And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?
Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.
29 Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again — my righteousness [is] in it.
Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.
30 Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?
Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
