Job 6

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!

³ For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.

⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: 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 hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁷ My soul refuseth to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.

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 crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

¹⁰ And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

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

¹² Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

¹³ Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?

¹⁴ To him that is ready to faint kindness should be showed from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;

¹⁶ Which are black by reason of the ice, And wherein the snow hideth itself:

¹⁷ What time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

¹⁸ The caravans that travel by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.

¹⁹ The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.

²⁰ They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.

²¹ For now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.

²² Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?

²³ Or, Deliver me from the adversary’s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?

²⁴ Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

²⁵ How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?

²⁶ Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?

²⁷ Yea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.

²⁸ Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

²⁹ Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

³⁰ Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?