Ἰώβ 6
1 ὑπολαβὼν δὲ Ιωβ λέγει
Then Job answered,
2 εἰ γάρ τις ἱστῶν στήσαι μου τὴν ὀργήν τὰς δὲ ὀδύνας μου ἄραι ἐν ζυγῷ ὁμοθυμαδόν
“Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 καὶ δὴ ἄμμου παραλίας βαρυτέρα ἔσται ἀλλ’ ὡς ἔοικεν τὰ ῥήματά μού ἐστιν φαῦλα
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore my words have been rash.
4 βέλη γὰρ κυρίου ἐν τῷ σώματί μού ἐστιν ὧν ὁ θυμὸς αὐτῶν ἐκπίνει μου τὸ αἷμα ὅταν ἄρξωμαι λαλεῖν κεντοῦσί με
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 τί γάρ μὴ διὰ κενῆς κεκράξεται ὄνος ἄγριος ἀλλ’ ἢ τὰ σῖτα ζητῶν εἰ δὲ καὶ ῥήξει φωνὴν βοῦς ἐπὶ φάτνης ἔχων τὰ βρώματα
Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?
6 εἰ βρωθήσεται ἄρτος ἄνευ ἁλός εἰ δὲ καὶ ἔστιν γεῦμα ἐν ῥήμασιν κενοῖς
Can that which has no flavour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 οὐ δύναται γὰρ παύσασθαί μου ἡ ψυχή βρόμον γὰρ ὁρῶ τὰ σῖτά μου ὥσπερ ὀσμὴν λέοντος
My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.
8 εἰ γὰρ δῴη καὶ ἔλθοι μου ἡ αἴτησις καὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα μου δῴη ὁ κύριος
“Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,
9 ἀρξάμενος ὁ κύριος τρωσάτω με εἰς τέλος δὲ μή με ἀνελέτω
even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 εἴη δέ μου πόλις τάφος ἐφ’ ἧς ἐπὶ τειχέων ἡλλόμην ἐπ’ αὐτῆς οὐ μὴ φείσωμαι οὐ γὰρ ἐψευσάμην ῥήματα ἅγια θεοῦ μου
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 τίς γάρ μου ἡ ἰσχύς ὅτι ὑπομένω ἢ τίς μου ὁ χρόνος ὅτι ἀνέχεταί μου ἡ ψυχή
What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?
12 μὴ ἰσχὺς λίθων ἡ ἰσχύς μου ἢ αἱ σάρκες μού εἰσιν χάλκειαι
Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?
13 ἦ οὐκ ἐπ’ αὐτῷ ἐπεποίθειν βοήθεια δὲ ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ ἄπεστιν
Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?
14 ἀπείπατό με ἔλεος ἐπισκοπὴ δὲ κυρίου ὑπερεῖδέν με
“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 οὐ προσεῖδόν με οἱ ἐγγύτατοί μου ὥσπερ χειμάρρους ἐκλείπων ἢ ὥσπερ κῦμα παρῆλθόν με
My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 οἵτινές με διευλαβοῦντο νῦν ἐπιπεπτώκασίν μοι ὥσπερ χιὼν ἢ κρύσταλλος πεπηγώς
which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.
17 καθὼς τακεῖσα θέρμης γενομένης οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθη ὅπερ ἦν
In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 οὕτως κἀγὼ κατελείφθην ὑπὸ πάντων ἀπωλόμην δὲ καὶ ἔξοικος ἐγενόμην
The caravans that travel beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 ἴδετε ὁδοὺς Θαιμανων ἀτραποὺς Σαβων οἱ διορῶντες
The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 καὶ αἰσχύνην ὀφειλήσουσιν οἱ ἐπὶ πόλεσιν καὶ χρήμασιν πεποιθότες
They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.
21 ἀτὰρ δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπέβητέ μοι ἀνελεημόνως ὥστε ἰδόντες τὸ ἐμὸν τραῦμα φοβήθητε
For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.
22 τί γάρ μή τι ὑμᾶς ᾔτησα ἢ τῆς παρ’ ὑμῶν ἰσχύος ἐπιδέομαι
Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?
23 ὥστε σῶσαί με ἐξ ἐχθρῶν ἢ ἐκ χειρὸς δυναστῶν ῥύσασθαί με
or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?
24 διδάξατέ με ἐγὼ δὲ κωφεύσω εἴ τι πεπλάνημαι φράσατέ μοι
“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.
25 ἀλλ’ ὡς ἔοικεν φαῦλα ἀληθινοῦ ῥήματα οὐ γὰρ παρ’ ὑμῶν ἰσχὺν αἰτοῦμαι
How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
26 οὐδὲ ὁ ἔλεγχος ὑμῶν ῥήμασίν με παύσει οὐδὲ γὰρ ὑμῶν φθέγμα ῥήματος ἀνέξομαι
Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
27 πλὴν ὅτι ἐπ’ ὀρφανῷ ἐπιπίπτετε ἐνάλλεσθε δὲ ἐπὶ φίλῳ ὑμῶν
Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
28 νυνὶ δὲ εἰσβλέψας εἰς πρόσωπα ὑμῶν οὐ ψεύσομαι
Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.
29 καθίσατε δὴ καὶ μὴ εἴη ἄδικον καὶ πάλιν τῷ δικαίῳ συνέρχεσθε
Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.
30 οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐν γλώσσῃ μου ἄδικον ἢ ὁ λάρυγξ μου οὐχὶ σύνεσιν μελετᾷ
Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?
