14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend(A)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.(B)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,(C)
    as the streams that overflow
16 when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,(D)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat(E) vanish from their channels.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema(F) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba(G) look in hope.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.(H)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.(I)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom(J) for me from your wealth,(K)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?(L)

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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