Job 6

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

1 Then Job answered and said:

2  "Oh that my vexation were weighed,
and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3  For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;
therefore my words have been rash.
4  For the arrows of the Almighty are in me;
my spirit drinks their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5  Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,
or the ox low over his fodder?
6  Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?t
7  My appetite refuses to touch them;
they are as food that is loathsome to me.t

8  "Oh that I might have my request,
and that God would fulfill my hope,
9  that it would please God to crush me,
that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10  This would be my comfort;
I would even exultt in pain unsparing,
for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11  What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12  Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
13  Have I any help in me,
when resource is driven from me?

14  "He who withholdst kindness from a friend
forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15  My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed,
as torrential streams that pass away,
16  which are dark with ice,
and where the snow hides itself.
17  When they melt, they disappear;
when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18  The caravans turn aside from their course;
they go up into the waste and perish.
19  The caravans of Tema look,
the travelers of Sheba hope.
20  They are ashamed because they were confident;
they come there and are disappointed.
21  For you have now become nothing;
you see my calamity and are afraid.
22  Have I said, 'Make me a gift'?
Or, 'From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?
23  Or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'?
Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless'?

24  "Teach me, and I will be silent;
make me understand how I have gone astray.
25  How forceful are upright words!
But what does reproof from you reprove?
26  Do you think that you can reprove words,
when the speech of a despairing man is wind?
27  You would even cast lots over the fatherless,
and bargain over your friend.

28  "But now, be pleased to look at me,
for I will not lie to your face.
29  Please turn; let no injustice be done.
Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
30  Is there any injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

Job 6

Job Replies to Eliphaz

1 Then Job responded:t

2 “Oh,t if only my grieft could be weighed,t
and my misfortune laidt on the scales too!t

3 But because it is heaviert than the sands of the sea,
that is why my words have been wild.t

4 For the arrowss of the Almightys are within me;
my spiritt drinks their poison;t
God’s sudden terrorst are arrayedt against me.

Complaints Reflect Suffering

5 “Does the wild donkeyt brayt when it is near grass?s
Ort does the ox low near its fodder?st

6 Can food that is tastelesst be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the whitet of an egg?

7 It have refusedt to touch such things;t
they are like loathsome food to me.t

A Cry for Death

8 “Oh thatt my request would be realized,t
and that God would grant me what I long for!ts

9 And that God would be willingt to crush me,
that he would let looset his hand
andt kill me.t

10 Then I would yet have my comfort,t
thent I would rejoice,t
in spite of pitiless pain,t
fort I have not concealed the wordss of the Holy One.t

11 What is my strength, that I should wait?s
and what is my end,t
that I should prolong my life?

12 Is my strength like that of stones?s
or is my flesh made of bronze?

13 Ist not my power to help myself nothing,
and has not every resourcet been driven from me?

Disappointing Friends

14 “To the one in despair, kindnesst should come from his friendt
even ift he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brotherss have been as treacheroust as a seasonal stream,t
and as the riverbeds of the intermittent streamst
that flow away.t

16 Theyt are darkt because of ice;
snow is piledt up over them.t

17 When they are scorched,t they dry up,
when it is hot, they vanisht from their place.

18 Caravanst turn aside from their routes;
they got into the wastelandt and perish.s

19 The caravans of Temas looked intentlyt for these streams;t
the traveling merchantst of Sheba hoped for them.

20 They were distressed,t
because each one had beent so confident;
they arrived there,t but were disappointed.

21 For nowt you have become like these streams that are no help;t
you see a terror,t and are afraid.

Friends’ Fears

22 “Have It ever said,s ‘Give me something,
and from your fortunet make giftst in my favor’?

23 Or ‘Deliver met from the enemy’s power,t
and from the hand of tyrantst ransomt me’?

No Sin Discovered

24 “Teacht me and I, for my part,t will be silent;
explain to met how I have been mistaken.t

25 How painfult are honest words!
Butt what does your reprooft prove?t

26 Do you intend to criticize mere words,
and treatt the words of a despairing man as wind?

27 Yes, you would gamblet for the fatherless,
and auction offt your friend.

Other Explanation

28 “Now then, be good enough to lookt at me;t
and I will nott lie to your face!

29 Relent,t let there be no falsehood;t
reconsider,t for my righteousness is intact!t

30 Is there any falsehoodts on my lips?
Can my moutht not discern evil things?t