6:1 Then Job replied:
6:2 “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
6:3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas–no wonder my words have been impetuous.
6:4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshaled against me.
6:5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
6:6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?
6:7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
6:8 “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,
6:9 that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off!
6:10 Then I would still have this consolation–my joy in unrelenting pain–that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
6:11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?
6:12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
6:13 Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
6:14 “A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
6:15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
6:16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
6:17 but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
6:18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go up into the wasteland and perish.
6:19 The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.
6:20 They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
6:21 Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.
6:22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
6:23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy, ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless’?
6:24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
6:25 How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?
6:26 Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?
6:27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.
6:28 “But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face?
6:29 Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.
6:30 Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?
6:1 Then Job answered and said,
6:2 Oh that my vexation were weighed indeed, / And that my ruin were lifted onto the scales together with it!
6:3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; / Therefore my words have been rash.
6:4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, / The poison of which my spirit drinks up; / The terrors of God are arrayed against me.
6:5 Does the wild ass bray over its grass? / Or does the ox low over its fodder?
6:6 Is what is savorless eaten without salt? / Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
6:7 My soul refuses to touch them; / They are like putrid food to me.
6:8 Oh that I might have my request, / And that God would grant me what I long for;
6:9 That God would be willing to crush me; / That He would release His hand and cut me off!
6:10 Then there would still be comfort for me; / And I would exult, even in writhing pain that does not spare, / That I did not deny the words of the Holy One.
6:11 What is my strength, that I should wait? / And what is my end, that I should be patient?
6:12 Is my strength the strength of stones? / Or is my flesh bronze?
6:13 Is there any help for me at all within me, / And has wisdom been driven away from me?
6:14 To him who is fainting there should be kindness from his friend, / Else he will forsake the fear of the Almighty.
6:15 My brothers have dealt as treacherously as a desert brook, / As the rivulets of the desert brooks that pass away,
6:16 Which are turbid because of the ice, / And into which the snow hides itself.
6:17 When they are scorched, they are completely consumed; / When it is hot, they are dried up from their place.
6:18 Caravans divert their ways for them; / They go up into the waste and perish.
6:19 The caravans of Tema look for them; / The companies of Sheba long for them.
6:20 They are put to shame because they are confident; / They go there and are confounded.
6:21 So now you have become such; / You see a terrible thing and are afraid.
6:22 Have I said, Give me something? / Or, Pay a bribe for me out of your wealth?
6:23 Or, Deliver me from the hand of the adversary? / Or, From the hand of the oppressors redeem me?
6:24 Teach me, and I will be silent; / Cause me to understand how I have erred.
6:25 How forceful are upright words! / But what does this reproving from you reprove?
6:26 Do you think you can reprove words? / But the words of a desperate man are for the wind.
6:27 You would even cast lots over the orphan / And bargain over your friend.
6:28 Now then be pleased to look upon me, / For surely I will not lie to your face.
6:29 Turn now; let there be no injustice. / Indeed turn; my righteousness is still here.
6:30 Is there any injustice on my tongue? / Can my palate not discern calamities?