Job 6–8

1Then Job answered,

2“Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!

3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore my words have been rash.

4For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison. The terrors of God set themselves in array against me.

5Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder?

6Can that which has no flavor 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 the thing that I long for,

9even that it would please God to crush me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

10Let it still be my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

11What is my strength, that I should wait? What is my end, that I should be patient?

12Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?

13Isn’t it that I have no help in me, that wisdom is driven away from me?

14“To him who is ready to faint, kindness should be shown from his friend; even to him who forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

16which are black by reason of the ice, in which the snow hides itself.

17In the dry season, they vanish. When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

18The caravans that travel beside them turn away. They go up into the waste, and perish.

19The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.

20They were distressed because they were confident. They came there, and were confounded.

21For now you are nothing. You see a terror, and are afraid.

22Did I ever say, ‘Give to me’? or, ‘Offer a present for me from your substance’?

23or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?

24“Teach me, and I will hold my peace. Cause me to understand my error.

25How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

26Do you intend to reprove words, since the speeches of one who is desperate are as wind?

27Yes, you would even cast lots for the fatherless, and make merchandise of your friend.

28Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I will not lie to your face.

29Please return. Let there be no injustice. Yes, return again. My cause is righteous.

30Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?

1“Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?

2As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,

3so I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.

4When I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.

5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.

6My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.

7Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.

8The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.

9As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more.

10He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.

11“Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

12Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?

13When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’

14then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,

15so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.

16I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.

17What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,

18that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?

19How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?

20If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?

21Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”

1Then Bildad the Shuhite answered,

2“How long will you speak these things? Shall the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

3Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

4If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their disobedience.

5If you want to seek God diligently, make your supplication to the Almighty.

6If you were pure and upright, surely now he would awaken for you, and make the habitation of your righteousness prosperous.

7Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.

8“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.

9(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow.)

10Shall they not teach you, tell you, and utter words out of their heart?

11“Can the papyrus grow up without mire? Can the rushes grow without water?

12While it is yet in its greenness, not cut down, it withers before any other reed.

13So are the paths of all who forget God. The hope of the godless man will perish,

14whose confidence will break apart, whose trust is a spider’s web.

15He will lean on his house, but it will not stand. He will cling to it, but it will not endure.

16He is green before the sun. His shoots go out along his garden.

17His roots are wrapped around the rock pile. He sees the place of stones.

18If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have not seen you.’

19Behold, this is the joy of his way. Out of the earth, others will spring.

20“Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man, neither will he uphold the evildoers.

21He will still fill your mouth with laughter, your lips with shouting.

22Those who hate you will be clothed with shame. The tent of the wicked will be no more.”