Job 6
1 But Job, responding, said:
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 I wish that my sins, for which I deserve wrath, and the calamity that I endure, were weighed out on a balance.
O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together!
3 Compared to the sand of the sea, they would appear heavier, and so my words are full of sorrow.
For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Lord are in me, my spirit drinks of their indignation, and the terrors of the Lord are soldiers against me.
For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my spirit. Terrors of God array themselves [for] me!
5 Will the wild ass bray when he has grass? Or will the ox bellow when he stands before a full manger?
Brayeth a wild ass over tender grass? Loweth an ox over his provender?
6 Or can one eat bland food, which is not seasoned with salt? Or can anyone taste that which, if tasted, causes death?
Eaten is an insipid thing without salt? Is there sense in the drivel of dreams?
7 The things that my soul was unwilling to touch before, now, because of anguish, are my foods.
My soul is refusing to touch! They [are] as my sickening food.
8 Who will grant that my petition may arrive and that God may bestow on me what I expect,
O that my request may come, That God may grant my hope!
9 and that he who, at first, had crushed me, will let loose his hand and cut me down?
That God would please — and bruise me, Loose His hand and cut me off!
10 And may this be my consolation, that in afflicting me with sorrow, although he might not be lenient with me, I still do not contradict the words of the Holy One.
And yet it is my comfort, (And I exult in pain — He doth not spare, ) That I have not hidden The sayings of the Holy One.
11 For what is my strength, that I may continue? Or what is my goal, so that I may act patiently?
What [is] my power that I should hope? And what mine end That I should prolong my life?
12 My strength is not the strength of stones, nor is my flesh made of bronze.
Is my strength the strength of stones? Is my flesh brazen?
13 Behold, there is no help for me in myself, and my loved ones also have withdrawn from me.
Is not my help with me, And substance driven from me?
14 He who takes away mercy from his friend, abandons the fear of the Lord.
To a despiser of his friends [is] shame, And the fear of the Mighty he forsaketh.
15 My brethren have disregarded me, like a torrent that passes swiftly through the steep valleys.
My brethren have deceived as a brook, As a stream of brooks they pass away.
16 Those who fear frost, snow will rush over them.
That are black because of ice, By them doth snow hide itself.
17 At that time, when they are scattered, they will perish, and when it becomes hot, they will be freed from their place.
By the time they are warm they have been cut off, By its being hot they have been Extinguished from their place.
18 The paths of their steps are entangled; they will walk in vain and will perish.
Turn aside do the paths of their way, They ascend into emptiness, and are lost.
19 Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait a little while.
Passengers of Tema looked expectingly, Travellers of Sheba hoped for them.
20 They have been thrown into confusion, just as I had hoped; they have even come to me and are overwhelmed with shame.
They were ashamed that one hath trusted, They have come unto it and are confounded.
21 Now you have arrived, and merely by seeing my affliction, you are afraid.
Surely now ye have become the same! Ye see a downfall, and are afraid.
22 Did I say: “Bring to me and give to me from your necessities?”
Is it because I said, Give to me? And, By your power bribe for me?
23 or, “Free me from the hand of the enemy and rescue me from the hand of the strong?”
And, Deliver me from the hand of an adversary? And, From the hand of terrible ones ransom me?
24 Teach me, and I will be silent, and if by chance I have been ignorant of anything, instruct me.
Shew me, and I — I keep silent, And what I have erred, let me understand.
25 Why have you diminished the words of truth, when there is none of you who is able to offer proof against me?
How powerful have been upright sayings, And what doth reproof from you reprove?
26 You prepare speeches as so much noise, and you offer words into the wind.
For reproof — do you reckon words? And for wind — sayings of the desperate.
27 You encroach upon the orphan, and you strive to undermine your friend.
Anger on the fatherless ye cause to fall, And are strange to your friend.
28 Such is true, so finish what you have begun. Listen closely, and see if I lie.
And, now, please, look upon me, Even to your face do I lie?
29 Respond, I beg you, without contention, and, speaking what is just, pass judgment.
Turn back, I pray you, let it not be perverseness, Yea, turn back again — my righteousness [is] in it.
30 And you will not find iniquity on my tongue, nor will foolishness resound in my throat.
Is there in my tongue perverseness? Discerneth not my palate desirable things?
