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Job 6
New International Version
Job 6
New International Version
Job
6 Then Job replied:
2 “If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!(A)
3 It would surely outweigh the sand(B) of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.(C)
4 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)
5 Does a wild donkey(K) bray(L) when it has grass,
or an ox bellow when it has fodder?(M)
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow[a]?(N)
7 I refuse to touch it;
such food makes me ill.(O)
8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,(P)
9 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.
Job 6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Job 6
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 6
Job’s First Reply. 1 Then Job answered and said:
2 Ah, could my anguish but be measured
and my calamity laid with it in the scales,
3 They would now outweigh the sands of the sea!
Because of this I speak without restraint.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me,(A)
and my spirit drinks in their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass?[a]
Does the ox low over its fodder?
6 Can anything insipid be eaten without salt?
Is there flavor in the white of an egg?
7 I refuse to touch them;
they are like loathsome food to me.
8 Oh, that I might have my request,
and that God would grant what I long for:
9 Even that God would decide to crush me,
that he would put forth his hand and cut me off!
10 Then I should still have consolation
and could exult through unremitting pain,
because I have not transgressed the commands of the Holy One.
11 What strength have I that I should endure,
and what is my limit that I should be patient?
12 Have I the strength of stones,
or is my flesh of bronze?
13 Have I no helper,(B)
and has my good sense deserted me?
14 A friend owes kindness to one in despair,
though he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15 My companions are undependable as a wadi,
as watercourses that run dry in the wadies;
16 Though they may be black with ice,
and with snow heaped upon them,
17 Yet once they flow, they cease to be;
in the heat, they disappear from their place.
18 Caravans wander from their routes;
they go into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema[b] search,
the companies of Sheba have hopes;
20 They are disappointed, though they were confident;
they come there and are frustrated.
21 It is thus that you have now become for me;[c]
you see a terrifying thing and are afraid.
22 Have I said, “Give me something,
make a bribe on my behalf from your possessions”?
23 Or “Deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
redeem me from oppressors”?
24 Teach me, and I will be silent;
make me understand how I have erred.
25 How painful honest words can be;
yet how unconvincing is your argument!
26 Do you consider your words as proof,
but the sayings of a desperate man as wind?
27 You would even cast lots for the orphan,
and would barter over your friend!
28 Come, now, give me your attention;
surely I will not lie to your face.
29 Think it over; let there be no injustice.
Think it over; I still am right.
30 Is there insincerity on my tongue,
or cannot my taste discern falsehood?
Footnotes
- 6:5–6 Job would not complain if his life were as pleasant to him as fodder to a hungry animal; but his life is as disagreeable as insipid food. White of an egg: thus the obscure Hebrew has been understood in Jewish tradition; some render it “mallow juice.”
- 6:19 Tema: in northwest Arabia. Sheba: home of the Sabeans; see note on 1:15.
- 6:21 It is only at this point that the previous lines (vv. 1–20) are clearly directed to the three friends. The style of replying in these chapters (3–31) is often indirect. Job and the friends become mouthpieces through which the author presents current views on divine retribution in dramatic fashion. In chap. 7, Job will not even speak directly to the friends.
Job 6
Nueva Versión Internacional
Job 6
Nueva Versión Internacional
Segundo discurso de Job
6 A esto Job respondió:
2 «¡Cómo quisiera que mi angustia se pesara
y se pusiera en la balanza, junto con mi desgracia!
3 ¡De seguro pesarían más que la arena de los mares!
¡Por algo mis palabras son tan impetuosas!
4 Las saetas del Todopoderoso me han herido,
y mi espíritu absorbe su veneno.
¡Dios ha enviado sus terrores contra mí!
5 ¿Rebuzna el asno salvaje si tiene hierba?
¿Muge el buey si tiene forraje?
6 ¿Puede comerse sin sal la comida desabrida?
¿Tiene algún sabor la clara de huevo?[a]
7 Mi paladar se niega a probarla;
¡esa comida me enferma!
8 »¡Ah, si Dios me concediera lo que pido!
¡Si Dios me otorgara lo que anhelo!
9 ¡Ah, si Dios se decidiera a destrozarme por completo,
a descargar su mano sobre mí y aniquilarme!
10 Aun así me quedaría este consuelo,
esta alegría en medio de mi implacable dolor:
¡el no haber negado las palabras del Dios Santo!
11 »¿Qué fuerzas me quedan para seguir esperando?
¿Qué fin me espera para querer vivir?
12 ¿Tengo acaso la fuerza de la roca?
¿Acaso tengo piel de bronce?
13 ¿Cómo puedo valerme por mí mismo,
si me han quitado todos mis recursos?
14 »Al amigo que sufre no se le niega la lealtad,[b]
aunque se haya apartado del temor al Todopoderoso.
15 Pero mis hermanos me traicionan como un torrente;
como corrientes de arroyos que desaparecen:
16 se enturbian cuando el hielo se derrite;
se ensanchan al derretirse la nieve,
17 pero dejan de fluir durante las sequías;
en pleno calor desaparecen de sus lechos.
18 Las caravanas se apartan de sus rutas;
se encaminan al desierto y allí mueren.
19 Las caravanas de Temá van en busca de agua,
los mercaderes de Sabá abrigan esperanzas.
20 Se desaniman, a pesar de su confianza;
llegan allí y se quedan frustrados.
21 Lo mismo pasa con ustedes:
¡ven algo espantoso y se asustan!
22 ¿Acaso les he pedido que me den algo
o que paguen con su dinero mi rescate?
23 ¿Acaso les he pedido que me libren de mi enemigo
o que me rescaten de las garras de los opresores?
24 »Instrúyanme y me quedaré callado;
muéstrenme en qué estoy equivocado.
25 ¡Qué dolorosas son las palabras justas!
¡Pero los argumentos de ustedes, qué pretenden probar!
26 ¿Pretenden ustedes corregir lo que digo
y tratar mis palabras desesperadas como si fueran viento?
27 ¡Ustedes echarían suertes hasta por un huérfano
y venderían a su amigo por cualquier cosa!
28 »Tengan la bondad de mirarme a los ojos.
¿Creen que les mentiría en su propia cara?
29 Reflexionen, no sean injustos;
reflexionen, que en esto radica mi integridad.
30 ¿Acaso hay malicia en mi lengua?
¿No puede mi paladar discernir la maldad?
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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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