< Job 6 >

1 And Job answered and said,
But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
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] within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there [any] taste in the white of an egg?
7 What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.
The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire!
Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!
9 And that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
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.
Then 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.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?
What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?
[Is] my strength the strength of stones? or [is] my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?
[Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid:
17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:
What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.
For now ye are nothing; ye see [my] casting down, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?
Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?
Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident unto you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

< Job 6 >