14 “He who (A)withholds[a] kindness from a (B)friend
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My (C)brothers are (D)treacherous as a torrent-bed,
    as torrential (E)streams that pass away,
16 which are dark with ice,
    and where the snow hides itself.
17 When they melt, they disappear;
    when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The caravans turn aside from their course;
    they go up into (F)the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of (G)Tema look,
    the travelers of (H)Sheba hope.
20 They are (I)ashamed because they were confident;
    they come there and are (J)disappointed.
21 For you have now become nothing;
    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, ‘Deliver me from the adversary's hand’?
    Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of (K)the ruthless’?

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Footnotes

  1. Job 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

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