Job 6
Names of God Bible
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 Shadday have found their target in me,
and my spirit is drinking their poison.
Eloah’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?[a]
7 I refuse to touch such things.
They are disgusting to me.[b]
8 “How I wish that my prayer would be answered—
that Eloah would give me what I’m hoping for,
9 that Eloah 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 Shadday.
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.[c]
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.[d]
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?
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.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.