Job 6:1-16
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 6
1Then Job responded,
2'Oh if only my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my disaster!
3For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; For that reason my words have been rash.
4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, My spirit drinks their poison; The terrors of God line up against me.
5Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his feed?
6Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the juice of an alkanet plant?
7My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.
8'Oh, that my request might come to pass, And that God would grant my hope!
9 Oh, that God would decide to crush me, That He would let loose His hand and cut me off!
10But it is still my comfort, And I rejoice in unsparing pain, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure?
12Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze?
13Is it that my help is not within me, And that a good outcome is driven away from me?
14'For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend; So that he does not abandon the fear of the Almighty.
15My brothers have acted deceitfully like a wadi, Like the torrents of wadis which drain away,
16Which are darkened because of ice, And into which the snow melts.
King James Version
Chapter 6
1But Job answered and said, 2Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together! 3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up. 4For 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. 5Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder? 6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? 7The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10Then 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.
11What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 6
1Then Job answered:
2If only my grief could be weighed and my devastation placed with it on the scales.
3For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas! That is why my words are rash.
4Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks their poison. God's terrors are arrayed against me.
5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass or an ox low over its fodder?
6Is bland food eaten without salt? Is there flavor in an egg white?
7I refuse to touch them; they are like contaminated food.
8If only my request would be granted and God would provide what I hope for:
9that he would decide to crush me, to unleash his power and cut me off!
10It would still bring me comfort, and I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11What strength do I have, that I should continue to hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?
12Is my strength that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?
13Since I cannot help myself, the hope for success has been banished from me.
14A despairing man should receive loyalty from his friends, even if he abandons the fear of the Almighty.
15My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi, as seasonal streams that overflow
16and become darkened because of ice, and the snow melts into them.
New Living Translation
Chapter 6
1Then Job spoke again:
2'If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales,
3they would outweigh all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke impulsively.
4For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God’s terrors are lined up against me.
5Don’t I have a right to complain? Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass, and oxen bellow when they have no food?
6Don’t people complain about unsalted food? Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg?
7My appetite disappears when I look at it; I gag at the thought of eating it!
8'Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire.
9I wish he would crush me. I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.
10At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11But I don’t have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for.
12Do I have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze?
13No, I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success.
English Standard Version
Chapter 6
1Then Job answered and said:
2“Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.
4For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?
6Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?
7My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.
8“Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope,
9that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
13Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?
14“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away,
16which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.
New International Version
Chapter 6
1Then Job replied:
2If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!
3It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas-- no wonder my words have been impetuous.
4The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me.
5Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
6Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow?
7I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.
8Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,
9that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut off my life!
10Then I would still have this consolation-- my joy in unrelenting pain-- that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.
11What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?
12Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?
13Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?
14Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow
16when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,
New King James Version
Chapter 6
1Then Job answered and said:
2“Oh, that my grief were fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales!
3For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea— Therefore my words have been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; My spirit drinks in their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder?
6Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.
8“Oh, that I might have my request, That God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9That it would please God to crush me, That He would loose His hand and cut me off!
10Then I would still have comfort; Though in anguish I would exult, He will not spare; For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11“What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what is my end, that I should prolong my life?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh bronze?
13 Is my help not within me? And is success driven from me?
14“To him who is afflicted, kindness should be shown by his friend, Even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers have dealt deceitfully like a brook, Like the streams of the brooks that pass away,
16Which are dark because of the ice, And into which the snow vanishes.