Job 6
1 Then Job spoke again, saying [to Eliphaz],
And Job made answer and said,
2 “If all my troubles and misery could be put on a scale and weighed,
If only my passion might be measured, and put into the scales against my trouble!
3 they would be heavier than all the sands [on the shores] of the oceans. That is why I spoke (very rashly/without thinking clearly) [about the day that I was born].
For then its weight would be more than the sand of the seas: because of this my words have been uncontrolled.
4 [It is as though] Almighty [God] has shot me with arrows. [It is as though] those arrows had poison on their tips, and that poison has gone into my spirit. The things that God has done to me have terrified me.
For the arrows of the Ruler of all are present with me, and their poison goes deep into my spirit: his army of fears is put in order against me.
5 Just like a wild donkey does not [complain by] braying when it has plenty of grass to eat, and an ox does not [complain by] bellowing when it has food to eat [MET], [I would not complain if you were really helping/comforting me].
Does the ass of the fields give out his voice when he has grass? or does the ox make sounds over his food?
6 People complain [RHQ] when they must eat food which has no salt or other tasteless food [MET], [and that is what your words are like, Eliphaz].
Will a man take food which has no taste without salt? or is there any taste in the soft substance of purslain?
7 Just like I do not want to eat food [like that], and I loathe/detests that kind of food [MET], [I do not appreciate what you have said to me].
My soul has no desire for such things, they are as disease in my food.
8 “I wish that God would do for me what I have requested from him [DOU].
If only I might have an answer to my prayer, and God would give me my desire!
9 I wish that he would crush me [and let me die]. I wish that he would reach out his hand and take away my life.
If only he would be pleased to put an end to me; and would let loose his hand, so that I might be cut off!
10 If he would do that, I would be comforted by knowing that in spite of the great pain that I have suffered, I have always obeyed what [God,] the Holy One, has commanded.
So I would still have comfort, and I would have joy in the pains of death, for I have not been false to the words of the Holy One.
11 But now I do not have [RHQ] enough strength to endure all these things. And since I have nothing [to hope for] in (the future/this life), it is difficult for me to be patient now [RHQ].
Have I strength to go on waiting, or have I any end to be looking forward to?
12 I am not [RHQ] strong like rocks are, and my body is not made of bronze.
Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh brass?
13 So I am not able to help myself, and [it seems that] there is no one to rescue me.”
I have no help in myself, and wisdom is completely gone from me.
14 “When a man has many troubles, his friends should be kind to him, even if he stops revering Almighty [God].
He whose heart is shut against his friend has given up the fear of the Ruler of all.
15 But [you,] my friends, are not dependable. You are like streams: They spill over their banks [in the spring]
My friends have been false like a stream, like streams in the valleys which come to an end:
16 when [the melting] ice and snow make those streams overflow,
Which are dark because of the ice, and the snow falling into them;
17 but when the dry season comes, there is no water flowing [in those streams], and the channels dry up.
Under the burning sun they are cut off, and come to nothing because of the heat.
18 [The caravans of merchants] turn off the path [to search for some water], but there is no water, so they die [in the desert].
The camel-trains go out of their way; they go up into the waste and come to destruction.
19 The men in those caravans search [for some water] because they are sure that they will find some.
The camel-trains of Tema were searching with care, the bands of Sheba were waiting for them:
20 But they do not find any, so they are very disappointed.
They were put to shame because of their hope; they came and their hope was gone.
21 Similarly, you friends have not helped me at all! You have seen that terrible things have happened to me, and you are afraid [that God might do similar things to you].
So have you now become to me; you see my sad condition and are in fear.
22 [After I lost all my wealth,] did I ask any of you for money? [RHQ] Did I plead with any of you to spend some of your money to help me [RHQ]?
Did I say, Give me something? or, Make a payment for me out of your wealth?
23 Have I asked any of you to rescue me from my enemies [RHQ]? Have I asked you to save me from those who (oppressed me/treated me badly) [RHQ]? [No!]”
Or, Get me out of the power of my hater? or, Give money so that I may be free from the power of the cruel ones?
24 “Answer me [now, and then] I will be quiet; tell me what wrong things I have done!
Give me teaching and I will be quiet; and make me see my error.
25 When people speak what is true, that will not hurt the person who hears it, but what you say, criticizing me, [is not true, so your saying it] proves nothing [RHQ]!
How pleasing are upright words! but what force is there in your arguments?
26 I am a man who has nothing to hope for, but you try to correct me, and you think what I say is nothing but wind [RHQ]!
My words may seem wrong to you, but the words of him who has no hope are for the wind.
27 You do not sympathize with me at all [for all that I am suffering]. [You are heartless!] You would even gamble to see who gets an orphan [as a prize]!
Truly, you are such as would give up the child of a dead man to his creditors, and would make a profit out of your friend.
28 Please look at me! I will not [RHQ] lie to you.
Now then, let your eyes be turned to me, for truly I will not say what is false to your face.
29 Stop [saying that I have sinned, and] stop criticizing me unjustly! You should realize that I have not done things that are wrong.
Let your minds be changed, and do not have an evil opinion of me; yes, be changed, for my righteousness is still in me.
30 Do you think that I am lying? No, I am not lying, because I know what is right and what is wrong [RHQ].”
Is there evil in my tongue? is not the cause of my trouble clear to me?
