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And Job answered and said,

Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

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

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of +God are arrayed against me.

Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?

Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?

What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.

Oh that I might have my request, and that +God would grant my desire!

And that it would please +God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

10 Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?

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

13 Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?

14 For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,

16 Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:

17 At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:

18 They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.

19 The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:

20 They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.

21 So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.

22 Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?

23 Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?

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 upbraiding reprove?

26 Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.

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

28 Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.

29 Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.

30 Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?

Job

Then Job replied:

“If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!(A)
It would surely outweigh the sand(B) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.(C)
The arrows(D) of the Almighty(E) are in me,(F)
    my spirit drinks(G) in their poison;(H)
    God’s terrors(I) are marshaled against me.(J)
Does a wild donkey(K) bray(L) when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?(M)
Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow[a]?(N)
I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.(O)

“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,(P)
that God would be willing to crush(Q) me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!(R)
10 Then I would still have this consolation(S)
    my joy in unrelenting pain(T)
    that I had not denied the words(U) of the Holy One.(V)

11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient?(W)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze?(X)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,(Y)
    now that success has been driven from me?

14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend(Z)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.(AA)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,(AB)
    as the streams that overflow
16 when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,(AC)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat(AD) vanish from their channels.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema(AE) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba(AF) look in hope.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.(AG)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.(AH)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom(AI) for me from your wealth,(AJ)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?(AK)

24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet;(AL)
    show me where I have been wrong.(AM)
25 How painful are honest words!(AN)
    But what do your arguments prove?
26 Do you mean to correct what I say,
    and treat my desperate words as wind?(AO)
27 You would even cast lots(AP) for the fatherless(AQ)
    and barter away your friend.

28 “But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?(AR)
29 Relent, do not be unjust;(AS)
    reconsider, for my integrity(AT) is at stake.[b](AU)
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?(AV)
    Can my mouth not discern(AW) malice?

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands