Job 6

¹Bvt Iob answered, and said,

²Oh that my griefe were well weighed, and my miseries were layed together in the balance.

³For it woulde be nowe heauier then the sande of the sea: therefore my wordes are swallowed vp.

⁴For the arrowes of the Almightie are in me, the venime whereof doeth drinke vp my spirit, and the terrours of God fight against me.

⁵Doeth the wilde asse bray when he hath grasse? or loweth the oxe when he hath fodder?

⁶That which is vnsauerie, shall it be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egge?

⁷Such things as my soule refused to touch, as were sorowes, are my meate.

⁸Oh that I might haue my desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

⁹That is, that God would destroy me: that he would let his hand go, and cut me off.

¹⁰Then should I yet haue comfort, (though I burne with sorowe, let him not spare) because I haue not denyed the wordes of the Holy one.

¹¹What power haue I that I should endure? or what is mine end, if I should prolong my life?

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

¹³Is it not so, that there is in me no helpe? and that strength is taken from me?

¹⁴He that is in miserie, ought to be comforted of his neighbour: but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie.

¹⁵My brethre haue deceiued me as a brook, and as the rising of the riuers they passe away.

¹⁶Which are blackish with yee, and wherein the snowe is hid.

¹⁷But in time they are dryed vp with heate and are consumed: and when it is hote they faile out of their places,

¹⁸Or they depart from their way and course, yea, they vanish and perish.

¹⁹They that go to Tema, considered them, and they that goe to Sheba, waited for them.

²⁰But they were confounded: when they hoped, they came thither and were ashamed.

²¹Surely nowe are ye like vnto it: ye haue seene my fearefull plague, and are afraide.

²²Was it because I said, Bring vnto me? or giue a rewarde to me of your substance?

²³And deliuer me from the enemies hande, or ransome me out of the hand of tyrants?

²⁴Teach me, and I wil hold my tongue: and cause me to vnderstande, wherein I haue erred.

²⁵Howe stedfast are the wordes of righteousnes? and what can any of you iustly reproue?

²⁶Doe ye imagine to reproue wordes, that the talke of the afflicted should be as the winde?

²⁷Ye make your wrath to fall vpon the fatherlesse, and dig a pit for your friende.

²⁸Nowe therefore be content to looke vpon me: for I will not lie before your face.

²⁹Turne, I pray you, let there be none iniquitie: returne, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousnesse in that behalfe. Is there iniquitie in my tongue? doeth not my mouth feele sorowes?

³⁰

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?