Job 6
Tree of Life Version
Job Cries For Justice
6 Job responded and said:
2 “If only my grief could be weighed
and my calamity placed on the scales.
3 For it outweighs the sands of the sea;
that is why my words have been rash.
4 For the arrows of Shaddai are in me,
my spirit drinks in their poison;
God’s terrors line up against me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass
or an ox bellow over his fodder?
6 Is something bland eaten without salt,
is there taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them;
they are like sickening food to me.
8 Oh that my request would be realized,
that God would grant my hope;
9 that God would be willing to crush me,
to release His hand, and cut me off!
10 Then I would still be comforted,
even rejoice in spite of unrelenting pain,
for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 “What is my strength,
that I should hope?
What is my end,
that I should endure?
12 Is my strength the strength of rock?
Is my flesh bronze?
13 Is there no help within me;
has not success been banished from me?
14 “A despairing person should have the kindness of his friend,
even if he forsakes the fear of Shaddai.
15 My brothers have acted deceptively,
as a seasonal stream,
as a torrential stream that overflows
16 when darkened by thawing ice,
and obscured by snow,
17 but when they are scorched, they dry up,
and in the heat, they vanish from their place.
18 Caravans turn aside from their course;
they go up into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked intently,
the travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They were distressed because they had been confident;
they came so far and were disappointed.
21 “Indeed, now you have become nothing;
you see a terror and are afraid.
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give to me’
or ‘Pay a bribe for me from your wealth’
23 or ‘Save me from the enemy’s hand’
or ‘Redeem me from a ruthless hand’?
24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;
explain to me how I have been wrong.
25 Honest words are painful,
but what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you intend to correct my words,
and treat the words of
a despairing man as wind?
27 Would you cast lots for an orphan,
and barter over your friend?
28 “Now be so kind as to look at me;
I will not lie to your face.
29 Relent, do not be unjust;
reconsider, for my righteousness is in it.
30 Is injustice on my tongue?
Can my palate not discern evil?”
Job 6
Modern English Version
Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just
6 But Job answered:
2 “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,
and my calamity laid with it on the scales!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea;
therefore my words are stuck in my throat.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;
my spirit drinks in their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass?
Or the ox bellow over his fodder?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt?
Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul refuses to touch them;
they are like loathsome food to me.
8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9 That it would please God to crush me,
that He would let loose His hand and cut me off!
10 Then I would still have comfort;
I would revel in pain; it will not subside,
for I have not concealed the words of 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 made of brass?
13 Is there no help within me?
And is success banished from me?
14 “A despairing man should be shown kindness from his friend,
or he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have acted deceitfully like a riverbed,
like the streams of the riverbeds that run dry;
16 which are dark because of the ice,
and into which the snow disappears.
17 In time they are scorched; they vanish!
When it is hot, they disappear from their place.
18 The caravans of their way turn aside;
they go nowhere, and they perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked,
the travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They were disappointed because they were confident;
they arrived there and were dismayed.
21 For now you are nothing;
you see terror and are afraid.
22 Did I say, ‘Give to me’?
Or, ‘Out of your wealth, bribe me’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the power of the enemy’?
Or, ‘From the power of the oppressors, liberate me’?
24 “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue,
and make me understand how I have erred.
25 How forceful are right words!
But what does your arguing prove?
26 Do you mean to correct my words,
and treat my desperate words as wind?
27 Yes, you cast lots for the fatherless,
and you bargain over your friend.
28 “And now, please give me your attention,
for surely I will not lie to you.
29 Turn, I pray, let there be no injustice!
Yes, turn again, my righteousness still stands!
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my taste discern pernicious things?
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.