Job 6 (New International Version)

Job

1 Then Job replied: 2 "If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!¹ 3 It would surely outweigh the sand² of the seas-- no wonder my words have been impetuous.³ 4 The arrows⁴ of the Almighty⁵ are in me,⁶ my spirit drinks⁷ in their poison;⁸ God's terrors⁹ are marshaled against me.¹⁰ 5 Does a wild donkey¹¹ bray¹² when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?¹³ 6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg^a ?¹⁴ 7 I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.¹⁵ 8 "Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,¹⁶ 9 that God would be willing to crush¹⁷ me, to let loose his hand and cut me off !¹⁸ 10 Then I would still have this consolation¹⁹-- my joy in unrelenting pain²⁰-- that I had not denied the words²¹ of the Holy One.²² 11 "What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?²³ 12 Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?²⁴ 13 Do I have any power to help myself,²⁵ now that success has been driven from me? 14 "A despairing man²⁶ should have the devotion²⁷ of his friends,²⁸ even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.²⁹ 15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,³⁰ as the streams that overflow 16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow,³¹ 17 but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat³² vanish from their channels. 18 Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go up into the wasteland and perish. 19 The caravans of Tema³³ look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba³⁴ look in hope. 20 They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.³⁵ 21 Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid.³⁶ 22 Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom³⁷ for me from your wealth,³⁸ 23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy, ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless'?³⁹ 24 "Teach me, and I will be quiet;⁴⁰ show me where I have been wrong.⁴¹ 25 How painful are honest words!⁴² But what do your arguments prove? 26 Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?⁴³ 27 You would even cast lots⁴⁴ for the fatherless⁴⁵ and barter away your friend. 28 "But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face?⁴⁶ 29 Relent, do not be unjust;⁴⁷ reconsider, for my integrity⁴⁸ is at stake.^b49 30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?⁵⁰ Can my mouth not discern⁵¹ malice?