Add parallel Print Page Options

Then Job answered,

“Oh that my anguish were weighed,
    and all my calamity laid in the balances!
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas,
    therefore my words have been rash.
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me.
    My spirit drinks up their poison.
The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
    Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass?
Or does the ox low over his fodder?
    Can that which has no flavor 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 the thing that I long for,
even that it would please God to crush me;
    that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10 Let it still be my consolation,
    yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare,
    that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
    What is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones?
    Or is my flesh of bronze?
13 Isn’t it that I have no help in me,
    that wisdom is driven away from me?

14 “To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend;
    even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook,
    as the channel of brooks that pass away;
16 which are black by reason of the ice,
    in which the snow hides itself.
17 In the dry season, they vanish.
    When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The caravans that travel beside them turn away.
    They go up into the waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked.
    The companies of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were distressed because they were confident.
    They came there, and were confounded.
21 For now you are nothing.
    You see a terror, and are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’?
    or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?
23 or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’?
    or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?

24 “Teach me, and I will hold my peace.
    Cause me to understand my error.
25 How forcible are words of uprightness!
    But your reproof, what does it reprove?
26 Do you intend to reprove words,
    since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?
27 Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless,
    and make merchandise of your friend.
28 Now therefore be pleased to look at me,
    for surely I will not lie to your face.
29 Please return.
    Let there be no injustice.
    Yes, return again.
    My cause is righteous.
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
    Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?

Job defends his anger

Job responded:

Oh, that my grief were actually weighed,
    all of it were lifted up in scales;
    for now it’s heavier than the sands of the sea;
        therefore, my words are rash.[a]
The Almighty’s arrows are in me;
    my spirit drinks their poison,
    and God’s terrors are arrayed against me.
Does a donkey bray over grass
    or an ox bellow over its fodder?
Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or does egg white[b] have taste?
I refuse to touch them;
    they resemble food for the sick.

He wishes to die

Oh, that what I’ve requested would come
        and God grant my hope;
    that God be willing to crush me,
    release his hand and cut me off.
10 I’d still take comfort,
    relieved[c] even though in persistent pain;
        for I’ve not denied the words of the holy one.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope;
    my end, that my life should drag on?
12 Is my strength that of rocks,
    my flesh bronze?
13 I don’t have a helper for myself;
    success has been taken from me.

He accuses his friends

14 Are friends loyal to the one who despairs,[d]
    or do they stop fearing the Almighty?
15 My companions are treacherous like a stream in the desert,
    like channels that overrun their streambeds,
16     like those darkened by thawing ice,
        in which snow is obscured
17     but that stop flowing in dry times
        and vanish from their channels in heat.
18 Caravans turn aside from their paths;
    they go up into untamed areas and perish.
19 Caravans from Tema look;
    merchants from Sheba hope for it.
20 They are ashamed that they trusted;
    they arrive and are dismayed.
21 That’s what you are like;[e]
    you see something awful and are afraid.

He appeals to his friends

22 Have I said, “Give me something?
    Offer a bribe from your wealth for me?
23     Rescue me from the hand of my enemy?
    Ransom me from the grip of the ruthless?”
24 Instruct me and I’ll be quiet;
    inform me how I’ve erred.
25 How painful are truthful words,
    but what do your condemnations accomplish?
26 Do you intend to correct my words,
    to treat the words of a hopeless man as wind?
27 Would you even gamble over an orphan,
    barter away your friend?
28 Now look at me—
    would I lie to your face?
29 Turn! Don’t be faithless.
    Turn now! I am righteous.
30 Is there wrong on my tongue,
    or can my mouth not recognize disaster?

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:3 Heb uncertain
  2. Job 6:6 Heb uncertain
  3. Job 6:10 Heb uncertain
  4. Job 6:14 Heb uncertain
  5. Job 6:21 Heb uncertain

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