Chapter 6

  And Job answered and said,  

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  Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!  

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  For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement.  

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  For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of +God are arrayed against me.  

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  Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder?  

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  Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg?  

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  What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.  

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  Oh that I might have my request, and that +God would grant my desire!  

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  And that it would please +God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!  

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  Then should I yet have comfort; and in the pain which spareth not I would rejoice that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.  

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  What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?  

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  Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass?  

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  Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?  

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  For him that is fainting kindness [is meet] from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.  

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  My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away,  

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  Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself:  

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  At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place:  

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  They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish.  

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  The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them:  

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  They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded.  

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  So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.  

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  Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance?  

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  Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent?  

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  Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.  

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  How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove?  

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  Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind.  

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  Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig [a pit] for your friend.  

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  Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie.  

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  Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it.  

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  Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?  

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