Job 6
American Standard Version
6 Then Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my vexation were but weighed,
And all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas:
Therefore have my words been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me,
The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up:
The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass?
Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in [a]the white of an egg?
7 [b]My soul refuseth to touch them;
They are as loathsome food to me.
8 Oh that I might have my request;
And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 Even that it would please God to crush me;
That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 And be it still my consolation,
[c]Yea, let me [d]exult in pain [e]that spareth not,
That I have not [f]denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is mine end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not that I have no help in me,
And that wisdom is driven quite from me?
14 To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend;
[g]Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook,
As the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 Which are black by reason of the ice,
And wherein the snow hideth itself:
17 What time they [h]wax warm, they vanish;
When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 [i]The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside;
They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked,
The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were put to shame because they had hoped;
They came thither, and were confounded.
21 For now ye [j]are nothing;
Ye see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, Give unto me?
Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?
23 Or, Deliver me from the adversary’s hand?
Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my peace;
And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness!
But your reproof, what doth it reprove?
26 Do ye think to reprove words,
Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are [k]as wind?
27 Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless,
And make merchandise of your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look upon me;
[l]For surely I shall not lie to your face.
29 Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice;
Yea, return again, [m]my cause is righteous.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
Footnotes
- Job 6:6 Or, the juice of purslain
- Job 6:7 Or, What things my soul refused to touch, these are as my loathsome food
- Job 6:10 Or, Though I shrink back
- Job 6:10 Or, harden myself
- Job 6:10 Or, though he spare not
- Job 6:10 Or, concealed
- Job 6:14 Or, Else might he forsake. Or, But he forsaketh
- Job 6:17 Or, shrink
- Job 6:18 Or, The paths of their way are turned aside
- Job 6:21 Another reading is, are like thereto.
- Job 6:26 Or, for the wind
- Job 6:28 Or, And it will be evident unto you if I lie
- Job 6:29 Hebrew my righteousness is in it.
Job 6
New American Standard Bible 1995
Job’s Friends Are No Help
6 Then Job [a]answered,
2 “(A)Oh that my grief were actually weighed
And laid in the balances together with my calamity!
3 “For then it would be (B)heavier than the sand of the seas;
Therefore my words have been rash.
4 “For the (C)arrows of the Almighty are within me,
[b]Their (D)poison my spirit drinks;
The (E)terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 “Does the (F)wild donkey bray over his grass,
Or does the ox low over his fodder?
6 “Can something tasteless be eaten without salt,
Or is there any taste in the [c]white of an egg?
7 “My soul (G)refuses to touch them;
They are like loathsome food to me.
8 “Oh that my request might come to pass,
And that God would grant my longing!
9 “Would that God were (H)willing to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and cut me off!
10 “But it is still my consolation,
And I rejoice in unsparing pain,
That I (I)have not [d]denied the words of the Holy One.
11 “What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should [e](J)endure?
12 “Is my strength the strength of stones,
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 “Is it that my (K)help is not within me,
And that [f](L)deliverance is driven from me?
14 “For the (M)despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not (N)forsake the [g]fear of the Almighty.
15 “My brothers have acted (O)deceitfully like a [h]wadi,
Like the torrents of [i]wadis which vanish,
16 Which are turbid because of ice
And into which the snow [j]melts.
17 “When (P)they become waterless, they [k]are silent,
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 “The [l]paths of their course wind along,
They go up into nothing and perish.
19 “The caravans of (Q)Tema looked,
The travelers of (R)Sheba hoped for them.
20 “They (S)were [m]disappointed for they had trusted,
They came there and were confounded.
21 “Indeed, you have now become such,
(T)You see a terror and are afraid.
22 “Have I said, ‘Give me something,’
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the hand of the adversary,’
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?
24 “Teach me, and (U)I will be silent;
And show me how I have erred.
25 “How painful are honest words!
But what does your argument prove?
26 “Do you intend to reprove my words,
When the (V)words of one in despair belong to the wind?
27 “You would even (W)cast lots for (X)the orphans
And (Y)barter over your friend.
28 “Now please look at me,
And see if I (Z)lie to your face.
29 “Desist now, let there be no injustice;
Even desist, (AA)my righteousness is yet in it.
30 “Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot (AB)my palate discern [n]calamities?
Footnotes
- Job 6:1 Lit answered and said
- Job 6:4 Lit Whose
- Job 6:6 Heb hallamuth, meaning uncertain. Perhaps the juice of a plant
- Job 6:10 Lit hidden
- Job 6:11 Lit prolong my soul
- Job 6:13 So ancient versions
- Job 6:14 Or reverence
- Job 6:15 Or brooks
- Job 6:15 Or brooks
- Job 6:16 Lit hides itself
- Job 6:17 Or cease
- Job 6:18 Or caravans turn from their course, they go up into the waste and perish
- Job 6:20 Lit ashamed
- Job 6:30 Or words
Public Domain (Why are modern Bible translations copyrighted?)
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
