Job 6

1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,

Then Job answered and said:

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

Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!

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

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.

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

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

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

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

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

Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?

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

My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.

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

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

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

Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!

10 Then 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.

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

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

What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?

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

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

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

Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?

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

To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

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

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,

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

Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;

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

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

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

The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.

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

The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them —

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

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

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

For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.

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

Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?

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

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

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

Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

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

How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?

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

Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?

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

Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.

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

Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.

29 Turne, I pray you, let there be none iniquitie: returne, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousnesse in that behalfe.

Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

30 Is there iniquitie in my tongue? doeth not my mouth feele sorowes?

Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?