Job 6 Parallel Bible Translations

Job 6 ▼
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NABRE
New American Bible Revised
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English Standard Version
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1 Then Job answered and said: Then Job answered and said: Then Job replied:
2 Ah, could my anguish but be measured and my calamity laid with it in the scales, “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
3 They would now outweigh the sands of the sea! Because of this I speak without restraint. For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash. It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been impetuous.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, and my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshaled against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass? Does the ox low over its fodder? Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder? Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
6 Can anything insipid be eaten without salt? Is there flavor in the white of an egg? Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow? Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow?
7 I refuse to touch them; they are like loathsome food to me. My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me. I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
8 Oh, that I might have my request, and that God would grant what I long for: “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope, “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,
9 Even that God would decide to crush me, that he would put forth his hand and cut me off! that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life!
10 Then I should still have consolation and could exult through unremitting pain, because I have not transgressed the commands of the Holy One. This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. Then I would still have this consolation— my joy in unrelenting pain— that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What strength have I that I should endure, and what is my limit that I should be patient? What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?
12 Have I the strength of stones, or is my flesh of bronze? Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
13 Have I no helper, and has my good sense deserted me? Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
14 A friend owes kindness to one in despair, though he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty. “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My companions are undependable as a wadi, as watercourses that run dry in the wadies; My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away, But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
16 Though they may be black with ice, and with snow heaped upon them, which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself. when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
17 Yet once they flow, they cease to be; in the heat, they disappear from their place. When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place. but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
18 Caravans wander from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish. The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish. Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema search, the companies of Sheba have hopes; The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope. The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.
20 They are disappointed, though they were confident; they come there and are frustrated. They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed. They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
21 It is thus that you have now become for me; you see a terrifying thing and are afraid. For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid. Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.
22 Have I said, “Give me something, make a bribe on my behalf from your possessions”? Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’? Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
23 Or “Deliver me from the hand of the enemy, redeem me from oppressors”? Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’? deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?
24 Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have erred. “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. “Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
25 How painful honest words can be; yet how unconvincing is your argument! How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove? How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
26 Do you consider your words as proof, but the sayings of a desperate man as wind? Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind? Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind?
27 You would even cast lots for the orphan, and would barter over your friend! You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend. You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.
28 Come, now, give me your attention; surely I will not lie to your face. “But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face. “But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face?
29 Think it over; let there be no injustice. Think it over; I still am right. Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake. Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
30 Is there insincerity on my tongue, or cannot my taste discern falsehood? Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity? Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
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