Job 6

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 terrorsⁱ 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?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

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

“What strength do I have, that I should still hope?

What prospects, that I should be patient?^w

Do I have the strength of stone?

Is my flesh bronze?^x

Do I have any power to help myself,^y

now that success has been driven from me?

“Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend^z

forsakes the fear of the Almighty.^a

But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,^b

as the streams that overflow

when darkened by thawing ice

and swollen with melting snow,^c

but that cease to flow in the dry season,

and in the heat^d vanish from their channels.

Caravans turn aside from their routes;

they go off into the wasteland and perish.

The caravans of Tema^e look for water,

the traveling merchants of Sheba^f look in hope.

They are distressed, because they had been confident;

they arrive there, only to be disappointed.^g

Now you too have proved to be of no help;

you see something dreadful and are afraid.^h

Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,

pay a ransomⁱ for me from your wealth,^j

deliver me from the hand of the enemy,

rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?^k

“Teach me, and I will be quiet;^l

show me where I have been wrong.^m

How painful are honest words!ⁿ

But what do your arguments prove?

Do you mean to correct what I say,

and treat my desperate words as wind?^o

You would even cast lots^p for the fatherless^q

and barter away your friend.

“But now be so kind as to look at me.

Would I lie to your face?^r

Relent, do not be unjust;^s

reconsider, for my integrity^t is at stake.^u

Is there any wickedness on my lips?^v

Can my mouth not discern^w malice?