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Job 6-9
Young's Literal Translation
Job 6-9
Young's Literal Translation
6 And Job answereth and saith: --
2 O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
3 For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
4 For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!
5 Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
6 Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
7 My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
8 O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9 That God would please -- and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
10 And yet it is my comfort, (And I exult in pain -- He doth not spare,) That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.
11 What [is] my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?
13 Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?
14 To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
15 My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
16 That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.
17 By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
18 Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19 Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.
21 Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.
22 Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23 And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?
24 Shew me, and I -- I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25 How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?
26 For reproof -- do you reckon words? And for wind -- sayings of the desperate.
27 Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.
28 And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?
29 Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again -- my righteousness [is] in it.
30 Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?
7 Is there not a warfare to man on earth? And as the days of an hireling his days?
2 As a servant desireth the shadow, And as a hireling expecteth his wage,
3 So I have been caused to inherit months of vanity, And nights of misery they numbered to me.
4 If I lay down then I said, `When do I rise!' And evening hath been measured, And I have been full of tossings till dawn.
5 Clothed hath been my flesh [with] worms, And a clod of dust, My skin hath been shrivelled and is loathsome,
6 My days swifter than a weaving machine, And they are consumed without hope.
7 Remember Thou that my life [is] a breath, Mine eye turneth not back to see good.
8 The eye of my beholder beholdeth me not. Thine eyes [are] upon me -- and I am not.
9 Consumed hath been a cloud, and it goeth, So he who is going down to Sheol cometh not up.
10 He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.
11 Also I -- I withhold not my mouth -- I speak in the distress of my spirit, I talk in the bitterness of my soul.
12 A sea-[monster] am I, or a dragon, That thou settest over me a guard?
13 When I said, `My bed doth comfort me,' He taketh away in my talking my couch.
14 And thou hast affrighted me with dreams, And from visions thou terrifiest me,
15 And my soul chooseth strangling, Death rather than my bones.
16 I have wasted away -- not to the age do I live. Cease from me, for my days [are] vanity.
17 What [is] man that Thou dost magnify him? And that Thou settest unto him Thy heart?
18 And inspectest him in the mornings, In the evenings dost try him?
19 How long dost Thou not look from me? Thou dost not desist till I swallow my spittle.
20 I have sinned, what do I to Thee, O watcher of man? Why hast Thou set me for a mark to Thee, And I am for a burden to myself -- and what?
21 Thou dost not take away my transgression, And cause to pass away mine iniquity, Because now, for dust I lie down: And Thou hast sought me -- and I am not!
8 And Bildad the Shuhite answereth and saith: --
2 Till when dost thou speak these things? And a strong wind -- sayings of thy mouth?
3 Doth God pervert judgment? And doth the Mighty One pervert justice?
4 If thy sons have sinned before Him, And He doth send them away, By the hand of their transgression,
5 If thou dost seek early unto God, And unto the Mighty makest supplication,
6 If pure and upright thou [art], Surely now He waketh for thee, And hath completed The habitation of thy righteousness.
7 And thy beginning hath been small, And thy latter end is very great.
8 For, ask I pray thee of a former generation, And prepare to a search of their fathers,
9 (For of yesterday we [are], and we know not, For a shadow [are] our days on earth.)
10 Do they not shew thee -- speak to thee, And from their heart bring forth words?
11 `Doth a rush wise without mire? A reed increase without water?
12 While it [is] in its budding -- uncropt, Even before any herb it withereth.
13 So [are] the paths of all forgetting God, And the hope of the profane doth perish,
14 Whose confidence is loathsome, And the house of a spider his trust.
15 He leaneth on his house -- and it standeth not: He taketh hold on it -- and it abideth not.
16 Green he [is] before the sun, And over his garden his branch goeth out.
17 By a heap his roots are wrapped, A house of stones he looketh for.
18 If [one] doth destroy him from his place, Then it hath feigned concerning him, I have not seen thee!
19 Lo, this [is] the joy of his way, And from the dust others spring up.'
20 Lo, God doth not reject the perfect, Nor taketh hold on the hand of evil doers.
21 While he filleth with laughter thy mouth, And thy lips with shouting,
22 Those hating thee do put on shame, And the tent of the wicked is not!
9 And Job answereth and saith: --
2 Truly I have known that [it is] so, And what -- is man righteous with God?
3 If he delight to strive with Him -- He doth not answer him one of a thousand.
4 Wise in heart and strong in power -- Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.
6 Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
7 Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.
8 Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.
11 Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.
12 Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, `What dost Thou?'
13 God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.
14 How much less do I -- I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.
16 Though I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear [to] my voice.
17 Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.
18 He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth me with bitter things.
19 If of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment -- who doth convene me?
20 If I be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! -- it declareth me perverse.
21 Perfect I am! -- I know not my soul, I despise my life.
22 It is the same thing, therefore I said, `The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'
23 If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.
24 Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not -- where, who [is] he?
25 My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.
27 Though I say, `I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!'
28 I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.
29 I -- I am become wicked; why [is] this? [In] vain I labour.
30 If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,
31 Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.
32 But if a man like myself -- I answer him, We come together into judgment.
33 If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.
34 He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,
35 I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.
Job 6-9
New International Version
Job 6-9
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.
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?
7 “Do not mortals have hard service(AX) on earth?(AY)
Are not their days like those of hired laborers?(AZ)
2 Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,(BA)
or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,(BB)
3 so I have been allotted months of futility,
and nights of misery have been assigned to me.(BC)
4 When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’(BD)
The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.(BE)
5 My body is clothed with worms(BF) and scabs,
my skin is broken and festering.(BG)
6 “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,(BH)
and they come to an end without hope.(BI)
7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;(BJ)
my eyes will never see happiness again.(BK)
8 The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
you will look for me, but I will be no more.(BL)
9 As a cloud vanishes(BM) and is gone,
so one who goes down to the grave(BN) does not return.(BO)
10 He will never come to his house again;
his place(BP) will know him no more.(BQ)
11 “Therefore I will not keep silent;(BR)
I will speak out in the anguish(BS) of my spirit,
I will complain(BT) in the bitterness of my soul.(BU)
12 Am I the sea,(BV) or the monster of the deep,(BW)
that you put me under guard?(BX)
13 When I think my bed will comfort me
and my couch will ease my complaint,(BY)
14 even then you frighten me with dreams
and terrify(BZ) me with visions,(CA)
15 so that I prefer strangling and death,(CB)
rather than this body of mine.(CC)
16 I despise my life;(CD) I would not live forever.(CE)
Let me alone;(CF) my days have no meaning.(CG)
17 “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
that you give them so much attention,(CH)
18 that you examine them every morning(CI)
and test them(CJ) every moment?(CK)
19 Will you never look away from me,(CL)
or let me alone even for an instant?(CM)
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you,(CN)
you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?(CO)
Have I become a burden to you?[c](CP)
21 Why do you not pardon my offenses
and forgive my sins?(CQ)
For I will soon lie down in the dust;(CR)
you will search for me, but I will be no more.”(CS)
Bildad
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite(CT) replied:
2 “How long will you say such things?(CU)
Your words are a blustering wind.(CV)
3 Does God pervert justice?(CW)
Does the Almighty pervert what is right?(CX)
4 When your children sinned against him,
he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.(CY)
5 But if you will seek God earnestly
and plead(CZ) with the Almighty,(DA)
6 if you are pure and upright,
even now he will rouse himself on your behalf(DB)
and restore you to your prosperous state.(DC)
7 Your beginnings will seem humble,
so prosperous(DD) will your future be.(DE)
8 “Ask the former generation(DF)
and find out what their ancestors learned,
9 for we were born only yesterday and know nothing,(DG)
and our days on earth are but a shadow.(DH)
10 Will they not instruct(DI) you and tell you?
Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?(DJ)
11 Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?(DK)
Can reeds(DL) thrive without water?
12 While still growing and uncut,
they wither more quickly than grass.(DM)
13 Such is the destiny(DN) of all who forget God;(DO)
so perishes the hope of the godless.(DP)
14 What they trust in is fragile[d];
what they rely on is a spider’s web.(DQ)
15 They lean on the web,(DR) but it gives way;
they cling to it, but it does not hold.(DS)
16 They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine,
spreading its shoots(DT) over the garden;(DU)
17 it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks
and looks for a place among the stones.
18 But when it is torn from its spot,
that place disowns(DV) it and says, ‘I never saw you.’(DW)
19 Surely its life withers(DX) away,
and[e] from the soil other plants grow.(DY)
20 “Surely God does not reject one who is blameless(DZ)
or strengthen the hands of evildoers.(EA)
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter(EB)
and your lips with shouts of joy.(EC)
22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame,(ED)
and the tents(EE) of the wicked will be no more.”(EF)
Job
9 Then Job replied:
2 “Indeed, I know that this is true.
But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?(EG)
3 Though they wished to dispute with him,(EH)
they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.(EI)
4 His wisdom(EJ) is profound, his power is vast.(EK)
Who has resisted(EL) him and come out unscathed?(EM)
5 He moves mountains(EN) without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger.(EO)
6 He shakes the earth(EP) from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.(EQ)
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;(ER)
he seals off the light of the stars.(ES)
8 He alone stretches out the heavens(ET)
and treads on the waves of the sea.(EU)
9 He is the Maker(EV) of the Bear[f] and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.(EW)
10 He performs wonders(EX) that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.(EY)
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.(EZ)
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?(FA)
Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’(FB)
13 God does not restrain his anger;(FC)
even the cohorts of Rahab(FD) cowered at his feet.
14 “How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him?(FE)
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;(FF)
I could only plead(FG) with my Judge(FH) for mercy.(FI)
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing.(FJ)
17 He would crush me(FK) with a storm(FL)
and multiply(FM) my wounds for no reason.(FN)
18 He would not let me catch my breath
but would overwhelm me with misery.(FO)
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!(FP)
And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him[g]?(FQ)
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.(FR)
21 “Although I am blameless,(FS)
I have no concern for myself;(FT)
I despise my own life.(FU)
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’(FV)
23 When a scourge(FW) brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent.(FX)
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,(FY)
he blindfolds its judges.(FZ)
If it is not he, then who is it?(GA)
25 “My days are swifter than a runner;(GB)
they fly away without a glimpse of joy.(GC)
26 They skim past(GD) like boats of papyrus,(GE)
like eagles swooping down on their prey.(GF)
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,(GG)
I will change my expression, and smile,’
28 I still dread(GH) all my sufferings,
for I know you will not hold me innocent.(GI)
29 Since I am already found guilty,
why should I struggle in vain?(GJ)
30 Even if I washed myself with soap(GK)
and my hands(GL) with cleansing powder,(GM)
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit(GN)
so that even my clothes would detest me.(GO)
32 “He is not a mere mortal(GP) like me that I might answer him,(GQ)
that we might confront each other in court.(GR)
33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,(GS)
someone to bring us together,(GT)
34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,(GU)
so that his terror would frighten me no more.(GV)
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,(GW)
but as it now stands with me, I cannot.(GX)
Footnotes
- Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
- Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands
- Job 7:20 A few manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, an ancient Hebrew scribal tradition and Septuagint; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text I have become a burden to myself.
- Job 8:14 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Job 8:19 Or Surely all the joy it has / is that
- Job 9:9 Or of Leo
- Job 9:19 See Septuagint; Hebrew me.
New International Version (NIV) 
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