Job 6:3-25
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 6
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. 17When they dry up, they vanish; When it is hot, they disappear from their place. 18The paths of their course wind along, They go up into wasteland and perish. 19The caravans of Tema looked, The travelers of Sheba hoped for them. 20They were put to shame, for they had trusted, They came there and were humiliated. 21Indeed, you have now become such, You see terrors and are afraid. 22Have I said, ‘Give me something,’ Or, ‘Offer a bribe for me from your wealth,’ 23Or, ‘Save me from the hand of the enemy,’ Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’? 24'Teach me, and I will be silent; And show me how I have done wrong. 25How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?King James Version
Chapter 6
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?
14To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
17What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
22Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 6
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.
17The wadis evaporate in warm weather; they disappear from their channels in hot weather.
18Caravans turn away from their routes, go up into the desert, and perish.
19The caravans of Tema look for these streams. The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
20They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water. When they arrive there, they are disappointed.
21So this is what you have now become to me. When you see something dreadful, you are afraid.
22Have I ever said, "Give me something" or "Pay a bribe for me from your wealth"
New Living Translation
Chapter 6
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.
14'One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.
15My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring
16when it is swollen with ice and melting snow.
17But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat.
18The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing to drink, so they die.
19The caravans from Tema search for this water; the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
20They count on it but are disappointed. When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.
21You, too, have given no help. You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.
22But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift? Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?
23Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies, or to save me from ruthless people?
24Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong.
25Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to?
English Standard Version
Chapter 6
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. 17When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place. 18The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish. 19The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope. 20They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed. 21For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid. 22Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’? Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’? 23Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless’? 24“Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray. 25How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?New International Version
Chapter 6
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,
17but that stop flowing in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.
18Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.
20They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.
21Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.
22Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth,
New King James Version
