Job 6

1 Then Job answered,

Then responded Job, and said: —

2 "Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances.

Oh that, weighed, were my vexation, and, my engulfing ruin—into the balances, they would lift up all at once!

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore have my words been rash.

For, now, beyond the sand of the seas, would it be heavy, On this account, my words, have wandered.

4 For the arrows of Shaddai are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array 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 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

Doth the wild ass bray over grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6 Can that which has no flavor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

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

My soul hath refused to touch, Those things, are like disease in my food.

8 "Oh that I might have my request, that God would grant the thing that I long for,

Oh that my request would come! and, my hope, oh that GOD would grant!

9 even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off.

That it would please GOD to crush me, That he would set free his hand, and cut me off!

10 Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn't spare, that I have not denied the words 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 is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

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 bronze?

Is my strength, the strength of stones? Or is, my flesh, of bronze?

13 Isn't it that I have no help in me, That wisdom is driven quite from me?

Is there any help at all in me? Is not, abiding success, driven from me?

14 "To the despairing, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of Shaddai.

The despairing, from his friend, should have lovingkindness, or, the reverence of the Almighty, he may forsake.

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

Mine own brethren, have proved treacherous like a torrent, like a channel of torrents which disappear:

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

Which darken by reason of the cold, over them, is a covering made by the snow:

17 In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

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 The caravans that travel beside them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.

Caravans turn aside by their course, they go up into a waste, and are lost:

19 The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.

The caravans of Tema looked about, the travelling companies of Sheba, hoped for them:

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

They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them, and are confounded.

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

For, now, ye have come to him, ye see something fearful, and fear.

22 Did I say, 'Give to me?' or, 'Offer a present for me from your substance?'

Is it that I said, Make me a gift, or, out of your abundance, offer a bribe on my behalf;

23 or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand?' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?'

And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And, out of the hand of tyrants, ransom me?

24 "Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

Show me, and, I, will hold my peace, And, wherein I have erred, cause me to understand.

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

How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you, decide?

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

To decide words, do ye intend, When, to the wind, are spoken the sayings of one in despair?

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

Surely, the fatherless, ye would assail, and make merchandise of your friend!

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

But, now, be pleased to turn to me, that it may be, to your faces, if I speak falsehood,

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

Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!

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

Is there, in my tongue, perversity? Or can, my sense, not discern, engulfing ruin?