< Job 6 >

1 Bvt Iob answered, and said,
Then responded Job, and said: —
2 Oh that my griefe were well weighed, and my miseries were layed together 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 it woulde be nowe heauier then the sande of the sea: therefore my wordes are swallowed vp.
For, now, beyond the sand of the seas, would it be heavy, On this account, my words, have wandered.
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 in me, The heat whereof, my spirit is drinking up, The, terrors of GOD, array themselves 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 over 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 white of an egg?
7 Such things as my soule refused to touch, as were sorowes, are my meate.
My soul hath refused to touch, Those things, are like disease in my food.
8 Oh that I might haue my desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!
9 That is, that God would destroy me: that he would let his hand go, and cut me off.
That it would please GOD to crush me, That he would set free 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.
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 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 hope? Or what mine end, that I should prolong my desire?
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 bronze?
13 Is it not so, that there is in me no helpe? and that strength is taken from me?
Is there any help at all in me? Is not, abiding success, driven from me?
14 He that is in miserie, ought to be comforted of his neighbour: but men haue forsaken the feare of the Almightie.
The despairing, from his friend, should have lovingkindness, or, the reverence of the Almighty, he may forsake.
15 My brethre haue deceiued me as a brook, and as the rising of the riuers they passe away.
Mine own brethren, have proved treacherous like a torrent, like a channel of torrents which disappear:
16 Which are blackish with yee, and wherein the snowe is hid.
Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:
17 But in time they are dryed vp with heate and are consumed: and when it is hote they faile out of their places,
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 Or they depart from their way and course, yea, they vanish and perish.
Caravans turn aside by their course, they go up into a 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 about, the travelling companies of Sheba, hoped for them:
20 But they were confounded: when they hoped, they came thither and were ashamed.
They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.
21 Surely nowe are ye like vnto it: ye haue seene my fearefull plague, and are afraide.
For, now, ye have come to him, ye see something fearful, and fear.
22 Was it because I said, Bring vnto me? or giue a rewarde to me of your substance?
Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;
23 And deliuer me from the enemies hande, or ransome me out of the hand of tyrants?
And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And, out of the hand of tyrants, ransom me?
24 Teach me, and I wil hold my tongue: and cause me to vnderstande, wherein I haue erred.
Show me, and, I, will hold my peace, And, wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.
25 Howe stedfast are the wordes of righteousnes? and what can any of you iustly reproue?
How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?
26 Doe ye imagine to reproue wordes, that the talke of the afflicted should be as the winde?
To decide words, do ye intend, When, to the wind, are spoken the sayings of one in despair?
27 Ye make your wrath to fall vpon the fatherlesse, and dig a pit for your friende.
Surely, the fatherless, ye would assail, and make merchandise of your friend!
28 Nowe therefore be content to looke vpon me: for I will not lie before your face.
But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,
29 Turne, I pray you, let there be none iniquitie: returne, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousnesse in that behalfe.
Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!
30 Is there iniquitie in my tongue? doeth not my mouth feele sorowes?
Is there, in my tongue, perversity? Or can, my sense, not discern, engulfing ruin?

< Job 6 >