14 A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends,[a](A)
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[b] 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.(B)
21 So this is what you have now become to me.[c]
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”?

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Footnotes

  1. 6:14 Lit To the despairing his friend loyalty
  2. 6:16 Or turbid
  3. 6:21 Alt Hb tradition reads So you have now become nothing

Job Accuses His Friends of Treachery

14 The friend shows gracious love for his friend,
    even if he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.
15 But my brothers have acted treacherously like a cascading river,
    like torrential rivers that overflow.
16 Filled with waters made cold[a] by ice,
    they are where the snow goes to hide.
17 But then the snow melts, and they disappear;
    when warmed, they evaporate from their stream beds.[b]
18 Travelers divert[c] in their route;
    they go into a wasteland and die.
19 Travelers from Tema search intently;
    caravans from Sheba hope to find them.
20 For all their expectations, they are doomed to disappointment;
    even though they have come and searched this far.

21 “And now you’re all just like them, aren’t you?[d]
    You see my terror and are terrified.
22 When did I ever ask you for anything,
    say ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth?’
23 or say ‘Deliver me from my enemy’s control,’[e]
    or ‘Redeem me from the domination[f] of ruthless people’?”

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Footnotes

  1. Job 6:16 Lit. dark
  2. Job 6:17 Lit. their place
  3. Job 6:18 Lit. twist
  4. Job 6:21 Lit. it
  5. Job 6:23 Lit. hand
  6. Job 6:23 Lit. hand