Job 6

1 Then Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said:

2 “Oh, if only my anguish were weighed; if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!

Oh that my vexation were but weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances altogether!

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. That is why my words were reckless.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks up the poison; the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof my spirit drinketh up; the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

5 Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass? Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

6 Can that which has no taste 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 juice of mallows?

7 I refuse to touch them; they are like disgusting food to me.

My soul refuseth to touch them; they are as the sickness of my flesh.

8 Oh, that I might have my request; oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for:

Oh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 that it would please God to crush me once, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off from this life!

Even that it would please God to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!

10 May this still be my consolation— even if I exult in pain that does not lessen: that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should try to wait? What is my end, that I should prolong my life?

What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is mine end, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh made of bronze?

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13 Is it not true that I have no help in myself, and that wisdom has been driven out of me?

Is it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?

14 To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

To him that is ready to faint kindness is due from his friend, even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15 But my brothers have been as faithful to me as a desert streambed, as channels of water that pass away to nothing,

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that overflow,

16 which are darkened because of ice over them, and because of the snow that hides itself in them.

Which are black by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow hideth itself;

17 When they thaw out, they vanish; when it is hot, they melt out of their place.

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

18 The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water; they wander into barren land and then perish.

The paths of their way do wind, they go up into the waste, and are lost.

19 Caravans from Tema looked there, while companies of Sheba hoped in them.

The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them —

20 They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water. They went there, but they were deceived.

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

21 For now you friends are nothing to me; you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.

For now ye are become His; ye see a terror, and are afraid.

22 Did I say to you, 'Give something to me?' Or, 'Offer me a gift from your wealth?'

Did I say: 'Give unto me'? or: 'Offer a present for me of your substance'?

23 Or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand?' Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of my oppressors?'

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 peace; make me understand where I have been wrong.

Teach me, and I will hold my peace; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

25 How painful are truthful words! But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?

How forcible are words of uprightness! But what doth your arguing argue?

26 Do you plan to ignore my words, treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?

Do ye hold words to be an argument, but the speeches of one that is desperate to be wind?

27 Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child, and haggle over your friend like merchandise.

Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.

28 Now, therefore, please look at me, for surely I would not lie to your face.

Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; for surely I shall not lie to your face.

29 Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you; Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.

Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

30 Is there evil on my tongue? Cannot my mouth detect malicious things?

Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?