Job 6

1 But Job answered and said,

Then Job responded:

2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

“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 sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

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, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array 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 when he hath grass? or loweth the 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 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or 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 The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.

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 [me] the thing that I long for!

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

9 Even that it would please God to destroy 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; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed 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 prolong my life?

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? or [is] my flesh of brass?

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

13 [Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

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

14 To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but 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 brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;

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

16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid:

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

17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

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

18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

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

19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

Caravans from Tema looked, travelers from Sheba were confident,

20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

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

21 For now ye are nothing; ye see [my] casting down, 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? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

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

23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

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 arguing reprove?

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

26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as 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 ye dig [a pit] for your friend.

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

28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident unto you if I lie.

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

29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.

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

30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

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