Job 6

¹ Then Job answered and said:

² If only my anguish could be weighed,
and my calamity placed on the scales together —

³ it would be heavier than the sand of the seas!
That is why my words have been rash.

⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are in me;
my spirit drinks their poison.
The terrors of God are arrayed against me.

⁵ Does the wild donkey bray over grass?
Does the ox low over its fodder?

⁶ Can tasteless food be eaten without salt?
Is there any flavor in the slime of a mallow?

⁷ My appetite refuses to touch them;
they are like the sickness of my food.

⁸ If only my request would come,
and God would grant my hope —

⁹ that God would be willing to crush me,
that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!

¹⁰ That would still be my comfort —
I would writhe in unsparing pain —
that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

¹¹ What is my strength, that I should wait?
What is my end, that I should be patient?

¹² Is my strength the strength of stones?
Is my flesh bronze?

¹³ Is there any help left within me?
Has sound wisdom been driven from me?

¹⁴ To the one who is failing, loyalty is due from his friend —
even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ My brothers are treacherous like a wadi,
like the channels of wadis that vanish —

¹⁶ dark with ice,
where the snow hides itself;

¹⁷ in the time of heat they disappear;
when it is hot, they vanish from their place.

¹⁸ The paths of their course wind about;
they go up into the waste and perish.

¹⁹ The caravans of Tema look;
the travelers of Sheba hope for them.

²⁰ They are disappointed because they trusted;
they come there and are confounded.

²¹ Indeed, you have now become nothing.
You see terror and are afraid.

²² Did I say, "Give to me"?
Or, "Pay a bribe for me from your wealth"?

²³ Or, "Deliver me from the enemy's hand"?
Or, "Ransom me from the hand of the ruthless"?

²⁴ Teach me, and I will be silent;
show me where I have gone wrong.

²⁵ How painful are honest words!
But what does your argument prove?

²⁶ Do you plan to rebuke my words,
treating the speech of a desperate man as wind?

²⁷ You would even cast lots over an orphan
and haggle over your friend.

²⁸ Now please — turn and look at me.
Would I lie to your face?

²⁹ Relent, I beg you — let there be no injustice!
Relent — my righteousness is still in it!

³⁰ Is there injustice on my tongue?
Cannot my palate discern what is ruinous?