Job 6
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 “Oh, if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!
Oh that, weighed, were my vexation, and, my engulfing ruin—into the balances, they would lift up all at once!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. That is why my words were reckless.
For, now, beyond the sand of the seas, would it be heavy, On this account, my words, have wandered.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks up the poison; the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me.
For, the arrows of the Almighty, are in me, The heat whereof, my spirit is drinking up, The, terrors of GOD, array themselves against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?
Doth the wild ass bray over grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 I refuse to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.
My soul hath refused to touch, Those things, are like disease in my food.
8 Oh, that I might have my request; oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for:
Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!
9 that it would please God to crush me once, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life!
That it would please GOD to crush me, That he would set free his hand, and cut me off!
10 May this still be my consolation— even if I exult in pain that does not lessen: that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
So might it still be my comfort, And I might exult in the anguish he would not spare, —That I had not concealed the sayings of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should try to wait? What is my end, that I should prolong my life?
What is my strength, that I should hope? Or what mine end, that I should prolong my desire?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?
Is my strength, the strength of stones? Or is, my flesh, of bronze?
13 Is it not true that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom has been driven out of me?
Is there any help at all in me? Is not, abiding success, driven from me?
14 To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
The despairing, from his friend, should have lovingkindness, or, the reverence of the Almighty, he may forsake.
15 But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed, as channels of water that pass away to nothing,
Mine own brethren, have proved treacherous like a torrent, like a channel of torrents which disappear:
16 which are darkened because of ice over them, and because of the snow that hides itself in them.
Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:
17 When they thaw out, they vanish; when it is hot, they melt out of their place.
By the time they begin to thaw, they are dried up, as soon as it is warm, they have vanished out of their place.
18 The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water; they wander into barren land and then perish.
Caravans turn aside by their course, they go up into a waste, and are lost:
19 Caravans from Tema looked there, while companies of Sheba hoped in them.
The caravans of Tema looked about, the travelling companies of Sheba, hoped for them:
20 They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water. They went there, but they were deceived.
They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.
21 For now you friends are nothing to me; you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.
For, now, ye have come to him, ye see something fearful, and fear.
22 Did I say to you, 'Give something to me?' Or, 'Offer me a gift from your wealth?'
Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;
23 Or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand?' Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my oppressors?'
And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And, out of the hand of tyrants, ransom me?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace; make me understand where I have been wrong.
Show me, and, I, will hold my peace, And, wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.
25 How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?
How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?
26 Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?
To decide words, do ye intend, When, to the wind, are spoken the sayings of one in despair?
27 Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child, and haggle over your friend like merchandise.
Surely, the fatherless, ye would assail, and make merchandise of your friend!
28 Now, therefore, please look at me, for surely I would not lie to your face.
But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,
29 Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.
Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!
30 Is there evil on my tongue? Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?
Is there, in my tongue, perversity? Or can, my sense, not discern, engulfing ruin?
