Job 6

Job 6 – New International Version (NIV)

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 marshaled 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 flavor in the sap of the mallow^[a]?
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 traveling 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.^[b]
30. Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?

Footnotes

a. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
b. Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands

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Job 6 – King James Version (KJV)

Job’s Answer

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’s 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?