Job 6

1 And Job answered and said,

Then Job responded:

2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

“If my grief could be weighed and my troubles placed on the scales

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

they would be heavier than the sand of the sea. That's why I spoke so rashly.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; their poison saps my spirit. God's terrors are lined up against me.

5 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?

Don't wild donkeys bray when their grass is gone? Don't cattle groan when they don't have food!

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

Can something that's tasteless be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?

7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.

I just can't touch any food—even the thought makes me feel sick!

8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!

Oh, if only I could have what I really want, that God would give me what I most desire—

9 And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

that God would be willing to crush me to death, that he would just let me die!

10 Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

But it still comforts me to know, making me happy through the never-ending pain, that I have never rejected the words of God.

11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?

Why should I go on waiting when I don't have the strength? Why should I keep going when I don't know what is going to happen to me?

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

Am I as strong as rock? Am I made out of bronze?

13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?

How can I help myself now that any chance of success is ripped away from me?

14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

Anyone who isn't kind to a friend has given up respecting the Almighty.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,

My brothers have acted as deceptively as a desert stream, rushing waters in the desert that vanish.

16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:

The stream floods when it is full of dark ice and melting snow,

17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:

but in the heat it dries up and disappears, vanishing from where it once was.

18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.

Camel caravans turn aside to look for water, but don't find any and they die.

19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:

Caravans from Tema looked, travelers from Sheba were confident,

20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.

but their hopes were dashed—they came and found nothing.

21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.

Now you are no help, just like that—you see my trouble and you're afraid.

22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?

Have I asked you for anything? Have I told you to bribe anyone for me from your wealth?

23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?

Have I asked you to rescue me from an enemy? Have I told you to save me from my oppressors?

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

Explain this to me, and I'll be quiet. Show me where I'm wrong.

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

Honest words are painful, but what do your arguments prove?

26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.

Are you going to argue over what I said, when the words of someone in despair should be left to blow away in the wind?

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

You would play dice to win an orphan; you would bargain away your friend!

28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.

Look me in the eye and see if I'm lying to your face!

29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.

Don't talk like this! Don't be unjust! What I'm saying is right.

30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

I'm not telling lies—don't you think I wouldn't know if I was wrong?”