Job, 6
1. But Job answered and said,
1. Job replied:
2. Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
2. If only my anguish could be measured and my misery put on the scales;
3. For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
3. they would outweigh the sands of the seashore! It is for this that I speak impetuously.
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.
4. Pierced by the arrows of the Almighty, my spirit absorbs their poison; my heart fails before the terrors of God.
5. Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
5. Does a wild ass bray when it has fodder? Does an ox bellow when it has grass?
6. Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there [any] taste in the white of an egg?
6. What taste would food have without salt? What flavor is there in the white of an egg?
7. The things [that] my soul refused to touch [are] as my sorrowful meat.
7. So everything is tasteless for me, I am bored with my bread.
8. Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!
8. Would that I get my request, that God grant me what I want -
9. Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
9. that he would decide to crush me, let loose his hand and strike me down!
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.
10. Then this at least would comfort me, my only joy in merciless dread, that I have not cursed the will of the Holy one.
11. What [is] my strength, that I should hope? and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong my life?
11. Will I be able to go on hoping, what expectation to keep on waiting?
12. [Is] my strength the strength of stones? or [is] my flesh of brass?
12. Have I the strength of stone, and is my flesh of bronze?
13. [Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
13. There is no one to help me, all aid has departed from me.
14. To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
14. Friends without compassion made me lose the fear of the Almighty,
15. My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;
15. My brothers have been fickle, like the flowing of seasonal waters.
16. Which are blackish by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid:
16. They were but melted ice running from under the snow.
17. What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
17. But summer comes and the river dries, under the blazing sun no water is left.
18. The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
18. Because of this caravans get lost, go to wastelands and perish.
19. The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
19. The merchants of Tema search for the brooks, the travelers of Sheba look for them.
20. They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
20. In vain they expected, they are frustrated on arriving there.
21. For now ye are nothing; ye see [my] casting down, and are afraid.
21. Now you too are unable to help me; you see a horror and draw back in fear.
22. Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
22. Have I asked you to give me anything? Did I say, "Pay a ransom for me,
23. Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
23. deliver me from the enemy or rescue me from a tyrant?"
24. Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
24. Teach me and I will keep silent; show me where I have been wrong.
25. How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
25. Honest words I must not resent, but what have your arguments shown?
26. Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, [which are] as wind?
26. Do you mean to scorn my words, or throw to the wind a cry of despair?
27. Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig [a pit] for your friend.
27. Would you cast lots for the orphan and bargain over your friend?
28. Now therefore be content, look upon me; for [it is] evident unto you if I lie.
28. But now, give me your attention; surely I will not lie to your face.
29. Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness [is] in it.
29. Relent, and grant me justice; reconsider, my case is not yet tried.
30. Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
30. Is there insincerity on my tongue? Have I misunderstood misery?
