Add parallel Print Page Options

Job Speaks: God Has Attacked Me Without Cause

Then Job replied to his friends,

“If only my grief could be weighed,
    if only my misery could be laid on the scales with it,
then they would be heavier than the sand of the seas.
    I spoke carelessly
        because the arrows of Shadday have found their target in me,
            and my spirit is drinking their poison.
            Eloah’s terrors line up in battle against me.

“Does a wild donkey bray when it’s eating grass,
    or does an ox make a sound over its hay?
Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there any flavor in the white of an egg?[a]
        I refuse to touch such things.
        They are disgusting to me.[b]

“How I wish that my prayer would be answered—
    that Eloah would give me what I’m hoping for,
that Eloah would finally be willing to crush me,
    that he would reach out to cut me off.
10 Then I would still have comfort.
    I would be happy despite my endless pain,
        because I have not rejected the words of the Holy One.
11 What strength do I have left that I can go on hoping?
    What goal do I have that I would want to prolong my life?
12 Do I have the strength of rocks?
    Does my body have the strength of bronze?
13 Am I not completely helpless?
    Haven’t my skills been taken away from me?

You Have Not Treated Me Like True Friends

14 “A friend should treat a troubled person kindly,
    even if he abandons the fear of Shadday.
15 My brothers have been as deceptive as seasonal rivers,
    like the seasonal riverbeds that flood.
16 They are dark with ice.
    They are hidden by snow.[c]
17 They vanish during a scorching summer.
    In the heat their riverbeds dry up.
18 They change their course.
    They go into a wasteland and disappear.
19 Caravans from Tema look for them.
    Travelers from Sheba search for them.
20 They are ashamed because they relied on the streams.
    Arriving there, they are disappointed.

21 “So you are as unreliable to me as they are.[d]
    You see something terrifying, and you are afraid.
22 Did I ever say, ‘Give me a gift,’
    or ‘Offer me a bribe from your wealth,’
23 or ‘Rescue me from an enemy,’
    or ‘Ransom me from a tyrant’?
24 Teach me, and I’ll be silent.
    Show me where I’ve been wrong.
25 How painful an honest discussion can be!
    In correcting me, you correct yourselves!
26 Do you think my words need correction?
    Do you think they’re what a desperate person says to the wind?
27 Would you also throw dice for an orphan?
    Would you buy and sell your friend?

28 “But now, if you’re willing, look at me.
    I won’t lie to your face.
29 Please change your mind.
    Don’t permit any injustice.
    Change your mind because I am still right about this!
30 Is there injustice on my tongue,
    or is my mouth unable to tell the difference between right and wrong?

Footnotes

  1. Job 6:6 Hebrew meaning of “white of an egg” uncertain.
  2. Job 6:7 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.
  3. Job 6:16 Hebrew meaning of this verse uncertain.
  4. Job 6:21 Hebrew meaning of this line uncertain.

Job

Then Job replied:

“If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!(A)
It would surely outweigh the sand(B) of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.(C)
The arrows(D) of the Almighty(E) are in me,(F)
    my spirit drinks(G) in their poison;(H)
    God’s terrors(I) are marshaled against me.(J)
Does a wild donkey(K) bray(L) when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?(M)
Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow[a]?(N)
I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.(O)

“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,(P)
that God would be willing to crush(Q) me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!(R)
10 Then I would still have this consolation(S)
    my joy in unrelenting pain(T)
    that I had not denied the words(U) of the Holy One.(V)

11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient?(W)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze?(X)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,(Y)
    now that success has been driven from me?

14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend(Z)
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.(AA)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,(AB)
    as the streams that overflow
16 when darkened by thawing ice
    and swollen with melting snow,(AC)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
    and in the heat(AD) vanish from their channels.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
    they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema(AE) look for water,
    the traveling merchants of Sheba(AF) look in hope.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
    they arrive there, only to be disappointed.(AG)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.(AH)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
    pay a ransom(AI) for me from your wealth,(AJ)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
    rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?(AK)

24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet;(AL)
    show me where I have been wrong.(AM)
25 How painful are honest words!(AN)
    But what do your arguments prove?
26 Do you mean to correct what I say,
    and treat my desperate words as wind?(AO)
27 You would even cast lots(AP) for the fatherless(AQ)
    and barter away your friend.

28 “But now be so kind as to look at me.
    Would I lie to your face?(AR)
29 Relent, do not be unjust;(AS)
    reconsider, for my integrity(AT) is at stake.[b](AU)
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?(AV)
    Can my mouth not discern(AW) malice?

Footnotes

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