Job 6

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

1 Then Job answered and said:

2 “Oh that my vexation were weighed,
and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For then it would be heavier than ^athe sand of the sea;
therefore my words have been rash.
4 For ^bthe arrows of the Almighty are in me;
my spirit drinks their poison;
the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,
or the ox low over his fodder?
6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow? ^{▼▼The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain}
7 My appetite refuses to touch them;
they are as food that is loathsome to me. ^{▼▼The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain}
8 “Oh that I might have my request,
and that God would fulfill my hope,
9 that it would ^eplease God to crush me,
that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10 This would be my comfort;
I would even exult ^{▼▼The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain} in pain ^gunsparing,
for I have not denied the words of ^hthe Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
13 Have I any help in me,
when resource is driven from me?
14 “He who ⁱwithholds ^{▼▼Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain} kindness from a ^kfriend
forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My ^lbrothers are ^mtreacherous as a torrent-bed,
as torrential ⁿstreams 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 ^othe waste and perish.
19 The caravans of ^pTema look,
the travelers of ^qSheba hope.
20 They are ^rashamed because they were confident;
they come there and are ^sdisappointed.
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 ^tthe ruthless’?
24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;
make me understand how I have gone astray.
25 How forceful are upright words!
But what does reproof from you reprove?
26 Do you think that you can reprove words,
when the speech of a despairing man is ^uwind?
27 You would even ^vcast lots over the fatherless,
and bargain over your friend.
28 “But now, be pleased to look at me,
for I will not lie to your face.
29 ^wPlease turn; let no injustice be done.
Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
30 Is there any injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?