Chapter 6

But Job answered⁴ and said,⁴

Oh that my grief were throughly² weighed,¹¹ and my calamity ¹⁹⁶² laid⁴ in the balances together!

For now it would be heavier⁴ than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.¹

For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me, the poison whereof drinketh⁶ up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array⁴ against me.

Doth the wild ass bray⁴ when he hath grass? or loweth⁴ the ox over his fodder?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten¹¹ without salt? or is there [any] taste in the white of an egg?

The things [that] my soul refused¹⁴ to touch² [are] as my sorrowful meat.

Oh that⁴ I might have⁴ my request; and that God would grant⁴ [me] the thing that I long for!

Even that it would please⁵⁵ God to destroy¹⁷ me; that he would let loose⁵⁵ his hand, and cut me off!¹⁷

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden¹⁷ myself in sorrow: let him not spare;⁴ for I have not concealed¹⁴ the words of the Holy One.

What [is] my strength, that I should hope?¹⁷ and what [is] mine end, that I should prolong⁵⁵ my life?

[Is] my strength the strength of stones? or [is] my flesh of brass?

[Is] not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite⁸ from me?

To him that is afflicted pity [should be shewed] from his friend; but he forsaketh⁴ the fear of the Almighty.

My brethren have dealt deceitfully¹ as a brook, [and] as the stream of brooks they pass away;⁴

Which are blackish⁶ by reason of the ice, [and] wherein the snow is hid:¹⁰¹

What time they wax warm,²⁹ they vanish:⁸ when it is hot, they are consumed⁸ out of their place.

The paths of their way are turned aside;¹¹ they go⁴ to nothing, and perish.⁴

The troops of Tema looked,⁵² the companies of Sheba waited¹⁴ for them.

They were confounded¹ because they had hoped;¹ they came¹ thither, and were ashamed.⁴

For now ye are nothing; ye see⁴ [my] casting down, and are afraid.⁴

Did I say,¹ Bring³ unto me? or, Give a reward³ for me of your substance?

Or, Deliver¹⁶ me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem⁴ me from the hand of the mighty?

Teach⁵⁴ me, and I will hold my tongue:⁵⁵ and cause me to understand⁵⁴ wherein I have erred.¹

How forcible⁸ are right words! but what doth your arguing⁵³ reprove?⁵⁵

Do ye imagine⁴ to reprove⁵³ words, and the speeches of one that is desperate,¹² [which are] as wind?

Yea, ye overwhelm⁵⁵ the fatherless, and ye dig⁴ [a pit] for your friend.

Now therefore be content,⁵⁴ look³ upon me; for [it is] evident unto you if I lie.¹⁷

Return,³ I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return³ again, my righteousness [is] in it.

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern⁴ perverse things?