Job 6

1 Then Job replied:

2 “If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.

3 For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

5 Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?

6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?

7 My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.

8 If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:

9 that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

10 It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?

12 Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?

13 Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?

14 A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15 But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,

16 darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,

17 but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.

18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.

19 The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.

20 They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.

21 For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.

22 Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;

23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?

24 Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

25 How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

26 Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?

27 You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.

28 But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?

29 Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.

30 Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?

1 ¶ But Job answered and said,

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

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

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.

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

6 Can that which is unsavoury 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 sorrowful meat.

8 ¶ Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1 Job answered and said:

2 If my sorrow were weighed, and my affliction put into a balance together,

3 It would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore all that I say is vain.

4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, the fury of the Almighty drinketh out of my spirit, and the terrors of God are upon me.

5 The deer crieth not when he hath grass; the ox bleateth not when he hath his meat.

6 can you also eat that is unsalted? Or who likes to taste the white around the yolk?

7 That which my soul hateth to touch is the meat of my sorrows.

8 O that my request might be granted, and that God might give me that which I hope for!

9 That God would begin, and smite me, and let his hand go, and break me in pieces!

10 Then would I have consoled myself, and prayed in my sickness that he would not spare me. I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I may persevere? and what is my end, that my soul should be patient?

12 If my strength be not of stone, my flesh is not of brass.

13 for I have nowhere to turn, and my fortune is gone.

14 He that refuseth mercy to his neighbour putteth away the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren pass away contemptuously before me, as a brook, as the rivers of waters pass by.

16 But they that are afraid of the frost, upon them shall the snow fall.

17 In time, when the heat shall oppress them, they shall faint; and when it is hot, they shall perish from their place.

18 Their way goeth out by the way side; they tread upon the rough places, and perish.

19 They look to the ways of Thema; to the paths of Reicharabia they wait.

20 But they shall be ashamed when it is most sure, and shall be ashamed when they come to it.

21 For ye are now come unto me: and seeing sorrow, ye fear.

22 Did I also say, Bring ye hither, and of your substance give me?

23 And delivereth me out of the hand of the enemy, and delivereth me out of the hand of tyrants?

24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and that which I know not, instruct me.

25 Why do ye reprove right speech? Who is there among you who can punish them?

26 Ye devise words to punish, and ye pause words to make me despondent.

27 Ye fall upon a poor orphan, and dig pits for your neighbour.

28 But because ye have lifted up, look upon me, whether I will stand before you in lies.

29 Answer what is right; my answer will still remain right.

30 What matter if my tongue be false, and my mouth speak evil?