Job 6

¹But Job, responding, said:

²I wish that my sins, for which I deserve wrath, and the calamity that I endure, were weighed out on a balance.

³Compared to the sand of the sea, they would appear heavier, and so my words are full of sorrow.

⁴For the arrows of the Lord are in me, my spirit drinks of their indignation, and the terrors of the Lord are soldiers against me.

⁵Will the wild ass bray when he has grass? Or will the ox bellow when he stands before a full manger?

⁶Or can one eat bland food, which is not seasoned with salt? Or can anyone taste that which, if tasted, causes death?

⁷The things that my soul was unwilling to touch before, now, because of anguish, are my foods.

⁸Who will grant that my petition may arrive and that God may bestow on me what I expect,

⁹and that he who, at first, had crushed me, will let loose his hand and cut me down?

¹⁰And may this be my consolation, that in afflicting me with sorrow, although he might not be lenient with me, I still do not contradict the words of the Holy One.

¹¹For what is my strength, that I may continue? Or what is my goal, so that I may act patiently?

¹²My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh made of bronze.

¹³Behold, there is no help for me in myself, and my loved ones also have withdrawn from me.

¹⁴He who takes away mercy from his friend, abandons the fear of the Lord.

¹⁵My brethren have disregarded me, like a torrent that passes swiftly through the steep valleys.

¹⁶Those who fear frost, snow will rush over them.

¹⁷At that time, when they are scattered, they will perish, and when it becomes hot, they will be freed from their place.

¹⁸The paths of their steps are entangled; they will walk in vain and will perish.

¹⁹Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.

²⁰They have been thrown into confusion, just as I had hoped; they have even come to me and are overwhelmed with shame.

²¹Now you have arrived, and merely by seeing my affliction, you are afraid.

²²Did I say: “Bring to me and give to me from your necessities?”

²³or, “Free me from the hand of the enemy and rescue me from the hand of the strong?”

²⁴Teach me, and I will be silent, and if by chance I have been ignorant of anything, instruct me.

²⁵Why have you diminished the words of truth, when there is none of you who is able to offer proof against me?

²⁶You prepare speeches as so much noise, and you offer words into the wind.

²⁷You encroach upon the orphan, and you strive to undermine your friend.

²⁸Such is true, so finish what you have begun. Listen closely, and see if I lie.

²⁹Respond, I beg you, without contention, and, speaking what is just, pass judgment.

³⁰And you will not find iniquity on my tongue, nor will foolishness resound in my throat.

Job 6

¹But Job answered and said,

²Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

³For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

⁵Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

⁶Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁷The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

⁸Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

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

¹⁰Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

¹¹What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

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

¹³Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

¹⁴To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

¹⁶Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

¹⁷What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

¹⁸The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

¹⁹The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

²⁰They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

²¹For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

²²Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

²³Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

²⁴Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

²⁵How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

²⁶Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

²⁷Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

²⁸Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

²⁹Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

³⁰Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?