Job 6

1 But Job answered and said,

Then Job answered and said,

2 O that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

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

3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

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

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

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.

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

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

6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

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

7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my loathsome food.

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

8 O that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

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

9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

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

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.

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.

11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life?

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

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

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

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

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

14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

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.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

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

16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and in which the snow is hid:

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

17 In the time when they become warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

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

22 Did I say, Bring to me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

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

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

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

24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand how I have erred.

Teach me, and I will hold my peace; make me understand where I have been wrong.

25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

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

26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

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

27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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