Job 6

1 And Job answered and said,

Then Job answered,

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

“Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

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 seas, therefore my words have been rash.

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. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

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

Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low 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 has no flavour 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.

My soul refuses to touch them. They are as loathsome food to me.

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

“Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant 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 crush 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.

Let it still be my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied 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 wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

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 bronze?

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

Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?

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

“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

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

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

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

which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

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

In the dry season, 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 caravans that travel beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish.

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

The caravans 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 distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.

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

For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

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

Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from 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 adversary’s hand’? or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?

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 peace. Cause me to understand my error.

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

How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

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

Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

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

Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

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

Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.

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

Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.

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

Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?