Job 6
GOD’S WORD Translation
Job Speaks: God Has Attacked Me Without Cause
6 Then Job replied ⌞to his friends⌟,
2 “If only my grief could be weighed,
if only my misery could be laid on the scales with it,
3 then they would be heavier than the sand of the seas.
I spoke carelessly
4 because the arrows of the Almighty ⌞have found their target⌟ in me,
and my spirit is drinking their poison.
God’s terrors line up in battle against me.
5 “Does a wild donkey bray when it’s ⌞eating⌟ grass,
or does an ox make a sound over its hay?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?
7 I refuse to touch such things.
They are disgusting to me.
8 “How I wish that my prayer would be answered—
that God would give me what I’m hoping for,
9 that God would ⌞finally⌟ be willing to crush me,
that he would reach out to cut me off.
10 Then I would still have comfort.
I would be happy despite my endless pain,
because I have not rejected the words of the Holy One.
11 What strength do I have ⌞left⌟ that I can go on hoping?
What goal do I have that I would want to prolong my life?
12 Do I have the strength of rocks?
Does my body have the strength of bronze?
13 Am I not completely helpless?
Haven’t my skills been taken away from me?
You Have Not Treated Me Like True Friends
14 “A friend should treat a troubled person kindly,
even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have been as deceptive as seasonal rivers,
like the seasonal riverbeds that flood.
16 They are dark with ice.
They are hidden by snow.
17 They vanish during a scorching summer.
In the heat their riverbeds dry up.
18 They change their course.
They go into a wasteland and disappear.
19 Caravans from Tema look for them.
Travelers from Sheba search for them.
20 They are ashamed because they relied on the streams.
Arriving there, they are disappointed.
21 “So you are as unreliable to me ⌞as they are⌟.
You see something terrifying, and you are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Give me a gift,’
or ‘Offer me a bribe from your wealth,’
23 or ‘Rescue me from an enemy,’
or ‘Ransom me from a tyrant’?
24 Teach me, and I’ll be silent.
Show me where I’ve been wrong.
25 How painful an honest discussion can be!
In correcting me, you correct yourselves!
26 Do you think my words need correction?
Do you think they’re what a desperate person says to the wind?
27 Would you also throw dice for an orphan?
Would you buy and sell your friend?
28 “But now, if you’re willing, look at me.
I won’t lie to your face.
29 Please change your mind.
Don’t permit any injustice.
Change your mind because I am still right about this!
30 Is there injustice on my tongue,
or is my mouth unable to tell the difference between right and wrong?
Job 6
English Standard Version
Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just
6 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Oh that my vexation were weighed,
and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For then it would be heavier than (A)the sand of the sea;
therefore my words have been rash.
4 For (B)the arrows of the Almighty are in me;
my spirit drinks their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,
or the ox low over his fodder?
6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?[a]
7 My appetite refuses to touch them;
they are as food that is loathsome to me.[b]
8 “Oh that I might have my request,
and that God would fulfill my hope,
9 that it would (C)please God to crush me,
that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10 This would be my comfort;
I would even exult[c] in pain (D)unsparing,
for I have not denied the words of (E)the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
13 Have I any help in me,
when resource is driven from me?
14 “He who (F)withholds[d] kindness from a (G)friend
forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My (H)brothers are (I)treacherous as a torrent-bed,
as torrential (J)streams that pass away,
16 which are dark with ice,
and where the snow hides itself.
17 When they melt, they disappear;
when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The caravans turn aside from their course;
they go up into (K)the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of (L)Tema look,
the travelers of (M)Sheba hope.
20 They are (N)ashamed because they were confident;
they come there and are (O)disappointed.
21 For you have now become nothing;
you see my calamity and are afraid.
22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’?
Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary's hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of (P)the ruthless’?
24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;
make me understand how I have gone astray.
25 How forceful are upright words!
But what does reproof from you reprove?
26 Do you think that you can reprove words,
when the speech of a despairing man is (Q)wind?
27 You would even (R)cast lots over the fatherless,
and bargain over your friend.
28 “But now, be pleased to look at me,
for I will not lie to your face.
29 (S)Please turn; let no injustice be done.
Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
30 Is there any injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?
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The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
