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Job’s First Response[a]

Chapter 6

Impetuous Words.[b] Job then answered with these words:

“If only my anguish could be weighed
    and my misfortune placed with it on the scales.
They would then outweigh the sands of the sea—
    hence, my words have been impetuous.
For the arrows of the Almighty[c] have pierced me,
    and my spirit soaks in their poison;
    God’s terrors are aligned against me.
“Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass?
    Does an ox bellow when it has fodder?
Can tasteless food be eaten without salt?
    Is there any flavor in the whites of eggs?
I refuse to even touch them;
    they are like uncleanness in my food.

The Consolation of Death[d]

“Oh, that I might receive my request
    and God would grant me what I hope for:
that it would please him to crush me,
    cutting me off and ceasing to restrain his hand.
10 Such would be my consolation,
    and I would exult in my unrelenting pain,
    since I have never rebelled against the commands of the Holy One.
11 “Do I have the strength to continue to wait?
    And what future awaits me should I decide to be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh made of bronze?
13 How can I summon up the energy to survive?
    All possible solutions to my plight are beyond my reach.

My Brethren Have Betrayed Me[e]

14 “One who despairs should have the support of his friends
    even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15 But my brethren have proved to be as treacherous as a torrent,
    like watercourses that suddenly run dry;
16 they turn dark with ice
    and swell with the thawing of the snow,
17 but they dry up in the hot season,
    and in the heat vanish from their beds.
18 “Caravans wander off from their course;
    they go into the wilderness and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema search for water;
    the travelers from Sheba[f] move forward in hope.
20 But despite their confidence they are doomed to disappointment;
    they arrive there, only to be frustrated.
21 In much the same way you have dealt with me;
    you are stunned at my plight and are terrified.

Make Me Understand How I Have Been at Fault[g]

22 “Did I ever ask you to give me anything,
    or to use your vast wealth to alleviate my travails,
23 or to rescue me from the hands of an oppressor,
    or to ransom me from the power of ruthless men?
24 “Instruct me, and I will be silent;
    make me understand how I have been at fault.
25 I can readily accept logical explanations,
    but your arguments are without merit.
26 Do you think that your words should be embraced
    whereas mine are so fragile that they can be borne away by a light breeze?
27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless
    and sell your friend at a bargain price.
28 “Therefore, now I beg you to look at me,
    for I will not lie to your face.
29 Consider what I have said,
    and let no further injustice be inflicted upon me.
30 Does evil issue forth from my lips?
    Would I not realize it if I spoke untruthfully?

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:1 Eliphaz’s words, despite their spiritual beauty, have remained theoretical. Is there any recourse outside of God?
  2. Job 6:1 Anyone who is without affliction cannot measure another person’s suffering. Just as a bow reaches an adversary, God’s chastisements pierce hearts; they are as frightening as his poisonous arrows (Deut 32:23; Ps 38:3; Lam 3:12-15; Ezek 5:16).
  3. Job 6:4 The arrows of the Almighty: (the Hebrew has the archaic Shaddai); the trials sent by God (see note on Ps 38:3).
  4. Job 6:8 Job has reached the end of his strength and his patience, and now waits only for death. His only consolation is that he will have remained faithful to God to the end.
  5. Job 6:14 Friendship is a refreshing source, but for the sick it is as rare as a spring for a caravan in the wilderness.
  6. Job 6:19 Tema . . . Sheba: Arabian commercial centers.
  7. Job 6:22 Job has a deep sense of his innocence. Hence, the pious proposals of his friends seem to him to be inconsiderate.

But Job answered and said,

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

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?

約伯自述無辜

約伯回答說:

「要是能秤量我的苦難,
把我的災殃放在秤上,
那將比海沙還重;
所以我言語魯莽。
因為全能者的箭射中我,
箭毒侵蝕我的靈,
祂使恐懼列隊襲來。
野驢有草豈會叫喚?
牛有飼料豈會哞叫?
淡食無鹽豈可下嚥?
蛋白有什麼滋味呢?
我碰都不想碰,
它們令我噁心。
唯願我的祈求蒙應允,
願上帝成全我的冀望,
願祂壓碎我,
伸手毀滅我。
10 這樣,我還能感到欣慰,
在殘酷的痛苦中雀躍,
因我沒有違背聖者之言。
11 我有何力量可以支撐下去?
有何前景讓我忍耐下去?
12 我的力量豈能堅如石?
我豈是銅造之軀?
13 我毫無自救之力,
已到窮途末路。

14 「即使絕望者拋棄對上帝的敬畏,
也應該得到朋友的恩待。
15 我的弟兄難以信賴,如同季節河,
又像變化無常的河道——
16 結冰後顏色發黑,
融雪後水流漲溢;
17 水流在乾季時消失,
河床在烈日下乾涸。
18 商隊偏離原路來找水喝,
結果在荒漠中死去。
19 提瑪的商隊來找水喝,
示巴的旅客指望解渴,
20 結果希望化為泡影,
到了那裡大失所望。
21 同樣,你們幫不了我,
你們看見災禍便害怕。
22 我何嘗對你們說過,
『請你們供應我,
把你們的財產給我一份,
23 從仇敵手中拯救我,
從殘暴之徒手中救贖我』?

24 「請多賜教,我會閉口不言;
請指出我錯在何處。
25 忠言何等逆耳!
但你們的指責有何根據?
26 你們既視絕望者的話如風,
還要來糾正嗎?
27 你們甚至抽籤得孤兒,
把朋友當貨物賣掉。
28 懇請你們看著我,
我在你們面前撒過謊嗎?
29 請以仁慈為懷,公正一點;
請以仁慈為懷,因我誠實無過。
30 我豈會說詭詐之言?
我豈會是非不辨?

Job: My Complaint Is Just

Then Job answered and said:

“Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
And my calamity laid with it on the scales!
For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—
Therefore my words have been rash.
(A)For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
My spirit drinks in their poison;
(B)The terrors of God are arrayed (C)against me.
Does the (D)wild donkey bray when it has grass,
Or does the ox low over its fodder?
Can flavorless food be eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
My soul refuses to touch them;
They are as loathsome food to me.

“Oh, that I might have my request,
That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
That it would please God to crush me,
That He would loose His hand and (E)cut me off!
10 Then I would still have comfort;
Though in anguish I would exult,
He will not spare;
For (F)I have not concealed the words of (G)the Holy One.

11 “What strength do I have, that I should hope?
And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is my help not within me?
And is success driven from me?

14 “To(H) him who is [a]afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend,
Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 (I)My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook,
(J)Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
16 Which are dark because of the ice,
And into which the snow vanishes.
17 When it is warm, they cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The paths of their way turn aside,
They go nowhere and perish.
19 The caravans of (K)Tema look,
The travelers of (L)Sheba hope for them.
20 They are (M)disappointed[b] because they were confident;
They come there and are confused.
21 For now (N)you are nothing,
You see terror and (O)are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Bring something to me’?
Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the enemy’s hand’?
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of oppressors’?

24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue;
Cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forceful are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you intend to rebuke my words,
And the speeches of a desperate one, which are as wind?
27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless,
And you (P)undermine your friend.
28 Now therefore, be pleased to look at me;
For I would never lie to your face.
29 (Q)Yield now, let there be no injustice!
Yes, concede, my (R)righteousness [c]still stands!
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my [d]taste discern the unsavory?

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:14 Or despairing
  2. Job 6:20 Lit. ashamed
  3. Job 6:29 Lit. is in it
  4. Job 6:30 palate

Job

Then Job replied:

“If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!(A)
It would surely outweigh the sand(B) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.(C)
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)
Does a wild donkey(K) bray(L) when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?(M)
Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow[a]?(N)
I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.(O)

“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,(P)
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?

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands