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Job 6
Christian Standard Bible
Job 6
Christian Standard Bible
Job’s Reply to Eliphaz
6 Then Job answered:
2 If only my grief could be weighed
and my devastation(A) placed with it on the scales.(B)
3 For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas!
That is why my words are rash.
4 Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced[a] me;
my spirit drinks their poison.
God’s terrors are arrayed against me.(C)
5 Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass
or an ox low over its fodder?
6 Is bland food eaten without salt?
Is there flavor in an egg white?[b]
7 I refuse to touch them;
they are like contaminated food.(D)
8 If only my request would be granted
and God would provide what I hope for:
9 that he would decide to crush me,
to unleash his power and cut me off!
10 It would still bring me comfort,
and I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain
that I have not denied[c] the words of the Holy One.(E)
11 What strength do I have, that I should continue to hope?
What is my future, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength that of stone,
or my flesh made of bronze?
13 Since I cannot help myself,
the hope for success has been banished from me.
14 A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends,[d](F)
even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi,
as seasonal streams that overflow
16 and become darkened[e] because of ice,
and the snow melts into them.
17 The wadis evaporate in warm weather;
they disappear from their channels in hot weather.
18 Caravans turn away from their routes,
go up into the desert, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look for these streams.
The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
20 They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water.
When they arrive there, they are disappointed.(G)
21 So this is what you have now become to me.[f]
When you see something dreadful, you are afraid.
22 Have I ever said, “Give me something”
or “Pay a bribe for me from your wealth”
23 or “Deliver me from the enemy’s hand”
or “Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless”?
24 Teach me, and I will be silent.
Help me understand what I did wrong.
25 How painful honest words can be!
But what does your rebuke prove?
26 Do you think that you can disprove my words
or that a despairing man’s words are mere wind?(H)
27 No doubt you would cast lots for a fatherless child
and negotiate a price to sell your friend.(I)
Job 6
1599 Geneva Bible
Job 6
1599 Geneva Bible
6 1 Job answereth, that his pain is more grievous than his fault. 8 He wisheth death. 14 He complaineth of his friends.
1 But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were well weighed, and my miseries were laid together in the [a]balance!
3 For it would be now heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are [b]swallowed up.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, the venom whereof doth drink up my spirit, and the terrors of God [c]fight against me.
5 Doth the [d]wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox when he hath fodder?
6 That which is [e]unsavory, shall it be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 Such things as my soul refused to touch, as were sorrows, are my meat.
8 Oh that I might have my [f]desire, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 That is, that God would destroy me: that he would let his hand go, and cut me off.
10 Then should I yet have comfort, (though I burn with sorrow, let him not spare) [g]because I have not denied the words of the Holy one.
11 What power have I that I should endure? or what is mine [h]end, if I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is it not so, that there is in me no [i]help? and that [j]strength is taken from me?
14 He that is in misery, ought to be comforted of his neighbor: but men have forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brethren have deceived me as a [k]brook, and as the rising of the rivers they pass away.
16 Which are blackish with ice, and wherein the snow is hid.
17 But in time they are dried up with heat and are consumed: and when it is hot they fail out of their places,
18 Or they depart from their way and course, yea, they vanish and perish.
19 They that go to Tema, [l]considered them, and they that go to Sheba, waited for them.
20 But they were confounded: when they hoped, they came thither, and were ashamed.
21 Surely now are ye like [m]unto it: ye have seen my fearful plague, and are afraid.
22 Was it because I said, Bring unto me? or give a reward to me of your [n]substance?
23 And deliver me from the enemy’s hand, or ransom me out of the hand of tyrants?
24 Teach me, and I will [o]hold my tongue: and cause me to understand, wherein I have erred.
25 How [p]steadfast are the words of righteousness? and what can any of you justly reprove?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove [q]words, that the talk of the afflicted should be as the wind?
27 Ye make your wrath to fall upon the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.
28 Now therefore be content to [r]look upon me: for I will not lie before your face.
29 Turn, I pray you, let there be none iniquity: return, I say, and ye shall see yet my righteousness in that behalf. Is there iniquity in my tongue? doth not my mouth feel sorrows?
Footnotes
- Job 6:2 To know whether I complain without just cause.
- Job 6:3 My grief is so great that I lack words to express it.
- Job 6:4 Which declareth that he was not only afflicted in body, but wounded in conscience, which is the greatest battle that the faithful can have.
- Job 6:5 Think you that I cry without cause, seeing the brute beasts do not complain when they have what they would.
- Job 6:6 Can a man’s taste delight in that, that hath no savor? meaning, that none take pleasure in affliction, seeing they cannot [do] away with things that are unsavory to the mouth.
- Job 6:8 Herein he sinneth double, both in wishing through impatience to die, and also in desiring of God a thing which was not agreeable to his will.
- Job 6:10 That is, let me die at once, before I come to distrust in God’s promise through my impatience.
- Job 6:11 He fearest lest he should be brought to inconveniences, if his sorrows should continue.
- Job 6:13 Have I not sought to help myself as much as was possible?
- Job 6:13 Or, wisdom, or law.
- Job 6:15 He compareth those friends which comfort us not in misery, to a brook, which in summer, when we need water, is dry, in winter is hard frozen, and in the time of rain, when we have no need, overfloweth with water.
- Job 6:19 They that pass thereby to go into the hot countries of Arabia, think to find water there to quench their thirst, but they are deceived.
- Job 6:21 That is, like to this brook which deceiveth them that think to have water there in their need, as I looked for consolation at your hands.
- Job 6:22 He toucheth the worldlings, which for necessity will give part of their goods, and much more these men, which would not give him comfortable words.
- Job 6:24 Show me wherein I have erred, and I will confess my fault.
- Job 6:25 He that hath a good conscience doth not shrink at the sharp words or reasonings of others, except they be able to persuade him by reason.
- Job 6:26 Do you cavil at my words because I should be thought to speak foolishly, which am now in misery?
- Job 6:28 Consider whether I speak as one that is driven to this impatience through very sorrow, or as an hypocrite as you condemn me.
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
King James Version
Job 6
King James Version
6 But Job answered and said,
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 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.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 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?
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
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1599 Geneva Bible (GNV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.