Job 6

Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

1 Then ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} Job answered and said,

2 “If only my vexation could be well weighed,
and my calamity could be lifted up together with it in the balances,
3 for then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas;
therefore my words have been rash,
4 for the arrows of Shaddai are in me;
my spirit drinks their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild ass bray over grass,
or the ox bellow over its fodder?
6 Can tasteless food be eaten without ^{▼▼Hebrew “from without”} salt,
or is there taste in the white of a marshmallow plant?
7 ⌞I refused⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “My soul/throat refuses”} to touch them;
they are like ⌞food that will make me ill⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “the illness of my bread/food”}
8 “⌞O that⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “Who would give”} my request may come,
and that God may grant my hope,
9 that ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} God would decide that ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} he would crush me,
that he would let loose his hand and ⌞kill me⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “he would cut me off”}
10 But ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} it will still be my consolation,
and I would recoil in ⌞unrelenting⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “he/it does not have compassion,” or “he/it does not have pity,” or “he/it does not spare”} pain,
for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that ⌞I should hold out⌟? ^{▼▼Literally “I should make my self long,” or “I should lengthen my self”}
12 Or is my strength like the strength of stones?
Or is my flesh bronze?
13 ⌞Indeed⌟, ^{▼▼An interrogative marker plus “if”} my help is not in me,
and any success is driven from me.
14 “Loyal love ^{▼▼Or “Kindness”} should come for the afflicted from his friend,
even if ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} he forsakes the fear of Shaddai.
15 My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed;
like a streambed of wadis ^{▼▼A seasonal stream that is often dry} they flow away,
16 which are growing dark because of ice upon them,
it will pile up snow.
17 In time they dry up, they disappear;
when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The paths of their way wind around;
they go up into the wasteland, and they perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked;
the traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
20 They are disappointed, because they trusted;
they came ⌞here⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “up to it”} and they are confounded.
21 “For now you ^{▼▼Plural throughout the rest of this chapter} have become ⌞such⌟; ^{▼▼Literally “to it,” or “for it”}
you see terrors, and you fear.
22 Is it because I have said, ‘Give to me,’
or, ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth’?
23 or, ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} ‘Save me from the foe’s hand,’
or, ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} ‘Ransom me from the tyrants’ hand’?
24 Teach me, and I myself ^{▼▼Emphatic personal pronoun} will be silent;
and make me understand how I have gone astray.
25 How painful are ⌞upright words⌟! ^{▼▼Literally “words of uprightness”}
But ^{▼▼Hebrew “And”} what does ⌞your reproof⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “reproving from you”} reprove?
26 Do you intend to reprove my words ^{▼▼Or “Do you intend to reprove with words”}
and consider the words of a desperate man as wind?
27 Even over the orphan you would cast the lot,
and you would bargain over your friend.
28 “⌞Therefore⌟ ^{▼▼Literally “And now,” or “And so then”} be prepared, turn to me,
and I surely will not lie to your face. ^{▼▼Hebrew “faces”}
29 Please turn, let no injustice happen;
indeed, ^{▼▼Hebrew “and”} turn, ⌞my righteousness is still intact⌟. ^{▼▼Literally “still my righteousness is in it”}
30 Is there injustice on my tongue?
Or can my palate not discern calamity? ^{▼▼Or “calamities”}