Job 6 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

1 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! 3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash. (Pr 27:3) 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. (Ps 38:2) 5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder? 6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?^[1] 7 My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.^[2] 8 “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope, 9 that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! (Nu 11:15; 1Ki 19:4) 10 This would be my comfort; I would even exult^[3] in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. (Le 19:2; Isa 30:14; Isa 57:15; Ho 11:9)

Le 19:2Isa 30:14Isa 57:15Ho 11:9

11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? 13 Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? 14 “He who withholds^[4] kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. (Pr 11:24; Pr 17:17) 15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away, (1Sa 14:33; Ps 38:11; Ps 41:9; Jer 15:18)

1Sa 14:33Ps 38:11Ps 41:9Jer 15:18

16 which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself. 17 When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place. 18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish. (Ge 1:2; Jer 4:23) 19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope. (Ge 25:15; 1Ki 10:1; 1Ch 1:30; Isa 21:14; Jer 25:23)

Ge 25:151Ki 10:11Ch 1:30Isa 21:14Jer 25:23

20 They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed. (Isa 1:29; Jer 14:3) 21 For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid. 22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’? 23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’? (Job 15:20; Job 27:13) 24 “Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. 25 How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove? 26 Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind? (Job 7:7; Isa 41:29) 27 You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend. (Joe 3:3; Na 3:10) 28 “But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face. 29 Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake. (Job 17:10) 30 Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

New International Version

Job

1 Then Job replied: 2 ‘If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! 3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas – no wonder my words have been impetuous. 4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshalled against me. 5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder? 6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavour in the sap of the mallow^[1]? 7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill. 8 ‘Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, 9 that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life! 10 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 do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? 12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? 13 Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me? 14 ‘Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow 16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, 17 but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels. 18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish. 19 The caravans of Tema look for water, the travelling merchants of Sheba look in hope. 20 They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed. 21 Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid. 22 Have I ever said, “Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth, 23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy, rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless”? 24 ‘Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong. 25 How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove? 26 Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind? 27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend. 28 ‘But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face? 29 Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.^[2] 30 Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?

King James Version

1 But Job answered and said, 2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! 3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. 5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? 6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat. 8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! 9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! 10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. 11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass? 13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me? 14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; 16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid: 17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place. 18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish. 19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them. 20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed. 21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid. 22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? 23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy' hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty? 24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? 26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? 27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend. 28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. 29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. 30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

New International Reader’s Version

Job’s reply

1 Job replied, 2 ‘I wish my great pain could be weighed! I wish all my suffering could be weighed on scales! 3 I’m sure it would weigh more than the grains of sand on the seashore. No wonder I’ve been so quick to speak! 4 The Mighty One has shot me with his arrows. I have to drink their poison. God’s terrors are aimed at me. 5 Does a wild donkey cry out when it has enough grass? Does an ox call out when it has plenty of food? 6 Is food that doesn’t have any taste eaten without salt? Is there any flavour in the sap of a mallow plant? 7 I refuse to touch that kind of food. It makes me ill. 8 ‘I wish I could have what I’m asking for! I wish God would give me what I’m hoping for! 9 I wish he would crush me! I wish he would just cut off my life! 10 Then I’d still have one thing to comfort me. It would be that I haven’t said no to the Holy One’s commands. That would give me joy in spite of my pain that never ends. 11 ‘I’m so weak that I no longer have any hope. Things have got so bad that I can’t wait for help anymore. 12 Am I as strong as stone? Is my body made out of bronze? 13 I don’t have the power to help myself. All hope of success has been taken away from me. 14 ‘A person shouldn’t stop being kind to a friend. Anyone who does that stops showing respect for the Mighty One. 15 But my friends have stopped being kind to me. They are like streams that only flow for part of the year. They are like rivers that flow over their banks 16 when the ice begins to break up. The streams rise when the snow starts to melt. 17 But they stop flowing when the dry season comes. They disappear from their stream beds when the weather warms up. 18 Groups of traders turn away from their usual paths. They go off into the dry and empty land. And they die there. 19 Traders from Tema look for water. Travelling merchants from Sheba also hope to find it. 20 They become troubled because they had expected to find some. But when they arrive at the stream beds, they don’t find any water at all. 21 And now, my friends, you haven’t helped me either. You see the horrible condition I’m in. And that makes you afraid. 22 I’ve never said, “Give me something to help me. Use your wealth to set me free. 23 Save me from the power of my enemy. Rescue me from the power of mean people.” 24 ‘Teach me. Then I’ll be quiet. Show me what I’ve done wrong. 25 Honest words are so painful! But your reasoning doesn’t prove anything. 26 Are you trying to correct what I’m saying? Are you treating my hopeless words like nothing but wind? 27 You would even cast lots for those whose fathers have died. You would even trade away your closest friend. 28 ‘But now please look at me. Would I tell you a lie right here in front of you? 29 Stop what you are saying. Don’t be so unfair. Think it over again. You are trying to take my honesty away from me. 30 Has my mouth spoken anything that is evil? Do my lips say things that are hateful?’