Job 6

¹Then Job answered and said:

²O that my grief were weighed thoroughly! That my calamities were put together in the balance!

³Surely they would be heavier than the sand of the sea; On this account were my words rash.

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; Their poison drinketh up my spirit; The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

⁵Doth the wild ass bray in the midst of grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

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

⁷That which my soul abhorreth to touch Hath become my loathsome food.

⁸O that I might have my request, And that God would grant me that which I long for!

⁹That it would please God to destroy me; That he would let loose his hand, and make an end of me!

¹⁰Yet it should still be my consolation, Yea, in unsparing anguish I would exult, That I have not denied the commands of the Holy One.

¹¹What is my strength, that I should hope? And what mine end, that I should be patient?

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

¹³Alas, there is no help within me! Deliverance is driven from me!

¹⁴To the afflicted, kindness should be shown by a friend; Else he casteth off the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵But my brethren are faithless like a brook; Like streams of the valley that pass away;

¹⁶Which are turbid by reason of the ice, And the snow, which hideth itself in them.

¹⁷As soon as they flow forth, they vanish; When the heat cometh, they are dried up from their place.

¹⁸The caravans turn aside to them on their way; They go up into the desert, and perish.

¹⁹The caravans of Tema look for them; The companies of Sheba expect to see them;

²⁰They are ashamed that they have relied on them; They come to their place, and are confounded.

²¹So ye also are nothing; Ye see a terror, and shrink back.

²²Have I said, Bring me gifts? Or, Give a present for me out of your substance?

²³Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? Or, Rescue me from the hand of the violent?

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

²⁵How powerful are the words of truth! But what do your reproaches prove?

²⁶Do ye mean to censure words? The words of a man in despair are but wind.

²⁷Truly ye spread a net for the fatherless; Ye dig a pit for your friend.

²⁸Look now upon me, I pray you; For to your very face can I speak falsehood?

²⁹Return, I pray, and let there be no unfairness; Yea, return; —still is my cause righteous.

³⁰Is there iniquity on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern what is sinful?

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?