Job 6

Job: if only my anguish could be weighed

¹Then Job answered: ²If only my anguish could be weighed \q and all my calamity laid on the scales! ³For now it would outweigh the sand of the seas; \q that is why my words have been wild. ⁴For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, \q and my spirit drinks their poison; \q the terrors of God are lined up against me. ⁵Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, \q or an ox bellow over its feed? ⁶Can tasteless food be eaten without salt, \q or is there any flavor in the slime of purslane?^{a 7}I refuse to touch them; \q they are like food that makes me sick.^{b 8}Oh, that my request would be granted, \q that God would give me what I hope for: ⁹that God would be willing to crush me, \q to let loose his hand and cut me off! ¹⁰Then I would still have this comfort, \q and I would leap for joy in pain that does not let up: \q that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.^{c 11}What strength do I have, that I should keep waiting? \q What future do I have, that I should be patient? ¹²Is my strength the strength of stone? \q Is my flesh made of bronze? ¹³Is it not true that I have no help in myself, \q and any hope of success has been driven from me? ¹⁴Someone in despair should have faithful love from a friend, \q even one who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.^{d 15}My friends have been as undependable as a desert stream, \q like streambeds that run dry, ¹⁶which run dark with ice \q and swell with melting snow. ¹⁷When the heat comes, they fall silent; \q in the hot season they vanish from their beds.^{e 18}Caravans turn aside from their route; \q they go up into the wasteland and perish.^{f 19}The caravans of Tema look for the streams; \q the traveling companies of Sheba hope to find them. ²⁰They are disappointed, because they had been so sure; \q they arrive there and are dismayed. ²¹So now you have become like that stream: \q you see something terrible and are afraid.^{g 22}Have I ever said, “Give me something,” \q or, “Pay a bribe for me out of your wealth”? ²³Or, “Rescue me from the enemy’s hand; \q ransom me from the grip of the ruthless”? ²⁴Teach me, and I will be quiet; \q show me where I have gone wrong. ²⁵How forceful honest words can be! \q But what does your arguing prove?^{h 26}Do you mean to correct my words \q and treat the words of someone in despair as wind? ²⁷You would even cast lots for an orphan \q and haggle over the price of your friend. ²⁸But now, please look at me; \q I will not lie to your face. ²⁹Think again, please; do not be unjust. \q Think again: I am still in the right in this. ³⁰Is there anything wrong on my tongue? \q Can my palate not tell what is ruinous?