Job 6

¹Then Job answered and said :

²Oh that my vexation were weighed , and all my calamity laid in the balances !

³For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea ; therefore my words have been rash .

⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison ; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

⁵Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass , or the ox low over his fodder ?

⁶Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt , or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow ?

⁷My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.

⁸Oh that I might have my request , and that God would fulfill my hope ,

⁹that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off !

¹⁰This would be my comfort ; I would even exult in pain unsparing , for I have not denied the words of the Holy One .

¹¹What is my strength , that I should wait ? And what is my end , that I should be patient ?

¹²Is my strength the strength of stones , or is my flesh bronze ?

¹³Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?

¹⁴He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty .

¹⁵My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed , as torrential streams that pass away ,

¹⁶which are dark with ice , and where the snow hides itself .

¹⁷When they melt , they disappear ; when it is hot , they vanish from their place .

¹⁸The caravans turn aside from their course ; they go up into the waste and perish .

¹⁹The caravans of Tema look , the travelers of Sheba hope .

²⁰They are ashamed because they were confident ; they come there and are disappointed .

²¹For you have now become nothing ; you see my calamity and are afraid .

²²Have I said , Make me a gift? Or, From your wealth offer a bribe for me?

²³Or, Deliver me from the adversary’s hand ? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless ?

²⁴Teach me, and I will be silent ; make me understand how I have gone astray .

²⁵How forceful are upright words ! But what does reproof from you reprove ?

²⁶Do you think that you can reprove words , when the speech of a despairing man is wind ?

²⁷You would even cast lots over the fatherless , and bargain over your friend .

²⁸But now , be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face .

²⁹Please turn ; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake .

³⁰Is there any injustice on my tongue ? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity ?