Job 6:2-30 ▼

2 “Oh, that my grief could actually be weighed And placed in the balances together with my tragedy [to see if my grief is the grief of a coward]!

3 “For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; Therefore my words have been incoherent,

4 Because the arrows of the Almighty are within 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 does the ox low over his fodder?

6 “Can something that has no taste to it be eaten without salt? Or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?

7 “My soul refuses to touch them; Such things are like loathsome food to me [sickening and repugnant].

8 “Oh that my request would come to pass, And that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

9 “I wish that it would please God to crush me, That He would let loose His hand and cut me off.

10 “Then I would still have consolation, And I would jump for joy amid unsparing pain, That I have not denied or hidden the words of the Holy One.

11 “What strength do I have left, that I should wait [and hope]? And what is ahead of me, that I should be patient and endure?

12 “Is my strength and endurance that of stones, Or is my flesh made of bronze?

13 “Is it that I have no help within myself, And that success and wisdom have been driven from me?

14 “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not abandon (turn away from) the fear of the Almighty.

15 “My brothers have acted deceitfully like a brook, Like the torrents of brooks that vanish,

16 Which are dull and dirty because of ice, And into which the snow melts and hides itself;

17 When it is warm, they are silent and cease to flow; When it is hot, they vanish from their place.

18 “The paths of their course wind along, They go up into nothing and perish. [Your counsel is as helpful to me as a dry streambed in the heat of summer.]

19 “The caravans of Tema looked [for water], The caravans of Sheba waited for them [in vain].

20 “They were put to shame and disappointed because they had trusted [that they would find water]; They came there and were ashamed.

21 “Indeed, you have now become like a dried-up stream, You see a terror [believing me to be a victim of the wrath of God] and are afraid [to be compassionate].

22 “Did I ever say, ‘Give me something,’ Or, ‘Pay a bribe for me from your wealth,’

23 Or, ‘Rescue me from the adversary’s hand,’ Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?

24 “Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have erred.

25 “How painful are words of honesty. But what does your argument prove?

26 “Do you intend to reprove my words [with a convincing argument], When the words of one in despair belong to the wind [and go ignored]?

27 “You would cast lots (gamble) over the fatherless And bargain away your friend.

28 “Now please look at me, And see if I lie to your face [for you know that I would not].

29 “Turn away [from your suspicion], let there be no injustice; Turn away, my righteousness and vindication is still in it.

30 “Is there injustice or malice on my tongue? Can my palate not discern what is destructive?