Job 6

¹And Job made answer and said,

²If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!

³For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.

⁴For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me.

⁵Does the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?

⁶Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?

⁷My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.

⁸If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!

⁹If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!

¹⁰So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One.

¹¹Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?

¹²Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?

¹³I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me.

¹⁴He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.

¹⁵My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:

¹⁶Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them;

¹⁷Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat.

¹⁸The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction.

¹⁹The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:

²⁰They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone.

²¹So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.

²²Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?

²³Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?

²⁴Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.

²⁵How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?

²⁶My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.

²⁷Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.

²⁸Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.

²⁹Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.

³⁰Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?

Job 6

¹Then Job answered,

²"Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

³For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

⁵Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

⁶Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁷My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.

⁸"Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

⁹even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

¹⁰Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

¹¹What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

¹²Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

¹³Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite 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.

¹⁵My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

¹⁶Which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

¹⁷In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

¹⁸The caravans that travel beside them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.

¹⁹The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.

²⁰They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.

²¹For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

²²Did I say, 'Give to me?' or, 'Offer a present for me from your substance?'

²³or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand?' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?'

²⁴"Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

²⁵How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

²⁶Do you intend to reprove words, seeing that the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

²⁷Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

²⁸Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.

²⁹Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.

³⁰Is there injustice on my tongue? Can't my taste discern mischievous things?