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”?

Read full chapter

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

14 “Those who withhold[a] kindness from a friend
    forsake the fear of the Almighty.[b]
15 My companions are treacherous like a torrent bed,
    like swollen streams that pass away,(A)
16 that run dark with ice,
    turbid with melting snow.
17 In time of heat they disappear;
    when it is hot, they vanish from their place.(B)
18 The caravans turn aside from their course;
    they go up into the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look;
    the travelers of Sheba hope.(C)
20 They are disappointed because they were confident;
    they come there and are confounded.(D)
21 Such you have now become to me;[c]
    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, ‘Save me from an opponent’s hand’?
    Or, ‘Ransom me from the hand of oppressors’?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 6.14 Syr Vg Compare Tg: Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 6.14 Traditional rendering of Heb Shaddai
  3. 6.21 Cn Compare Gk Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain