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

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

28 “But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?(S)
29 Relent, do not be unjust;(T)
    reconsider, for my integrity(U) is at stake.[a](V)
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?(W)
    Can my mouth not discern(X) malice?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands

14 
“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not [a]abandon (turn away from) the fear of the Almighty.
15 
“My brothers have acted deceitfully like a brook,
Like the torrents of brooks that vanish,
16 
Which are dull and dirty because of ice,
And into which the snow melts and hides itself;
17 
When it is warm, they are silent and cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 
“The paths of their course wind along,
They go up into nothing and perish.
[Your counsel is as helpful to me as a dry streambed in the heat of summer.]
19 
“The caravans of [b]Tema looked [for water],
The caravans of [c]Sheba waited for them [in vain].
20 
“They were put to shame and disappointed because they had trusted [that they would find water];
They came there and were ashamed.
21 
“Indeed, you have now become like a dried-up stream,
You see a terror [believing me to be a victim of the wrath of God] and are afraid [to be compassionate].
22 
“Did I ever say, ‘Give me something,’
Or, ‘Pay a bribe for me from your wealth,’
23 
Or, ‘Rescue me from the adversary’s hand,’
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?

24 
“Teach me, and I will be silent;
And show me how I have erred.
25 
“How painful are words of honesty.
But what does your argument prove?
26 
“Do you intend to reprove my words [with a convincing argument],
When the words of one in despair belong to the wind [and go ignored]?
27 
“You would cast lots (gamble) over the fatherless
And bargain away your friend.
28 
“Now please look at me,
And see if I lie to your face [for you know that I would not].
29 
“Turn away [from your suspicion], let there be no injustice;
Turn away, my righteousness and vindication is still in it.
30 
“Is there injustice or malice on my tongue?
Can my palate not discern what is destructive?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 6:14 Lit forsake.
  2. Job 6:19 Tema, tribal descendants of the ninth son of Ishmael.
  3. Job 6:19 Sheba, tribal descendants of Abraham and Keturah.

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?

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