Job - Chapter 6 - A Conservative Version
- Then Job answered and said,
- O that my grief were but weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
- For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas. Therefore my words have been rash.
- For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison of which my spirit drinks up. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.
- Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or the ox moo over his fodder?
- Can that which has no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
- My soul refuses to touch [them]. They are as loathsome food to me.
- O that I might have my request, and that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!
- Even that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
- And be it still my consolation, yea, let me exult (in pain that does not spare), that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
- What is my strength that I should wait? And what is my end that I should be patient?
- Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?
- Is it not that I have no help in me, and that wisdom is driven quite from me?
- To him who is ready to faint, kindness [should be] from his friend, even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
- My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away,
- which are black because of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.
- What time they grow warm, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
- The caravans [that travel] by the way of them turn aside. They go up into the waste, and perish.
- The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
- They were put to shame because they had hoped. They came there, and were confounded.
- For now ye are nothing. Ye see a terror, and are afraid.
- Did I say, Give to me? Or, Offer a present for me from your substance?
- Or, Deliver me from the adversary's hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?
- Teach me, and I will be quiet. And cause me to understand how I have erred.
- How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?
- Do ye think to reprove words, seeing that the speeches of a man who is desperate are as wind?
- Yea, ye would cast [lots] upon the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.
- Now therefore be pleased to look upon me, for truly I shall not lie to your face.
- Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice. Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.
- Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?