Job 6

¹ And Job answered and said, ² Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! ³ For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore my words are vehement. ⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, their poison drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of +God are arrayed against me. ⁵ Doth the wild ass bray by the grass? loweth an ox over his fodder? ⁶ Shall that which is insipid be eaten without salt? Is there any taste in the white of an egg? ⁷ What my soul refuseth to touch, that is as my loathsome food.

⁸ Oh that I might have my request, and that +God would grant my desire! ⁹ And that it would please +God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off! ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience? ¹² Is my strength the strength of stones? is my flesh of brass? ¹³ Is it not that there is no help in me, and soundness is driven away from me?

¹⁴ For him that is fainting kindness is meet from his friend; or he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty. ¹⁵ My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a stream, as the channel of streams which pass away, ¹⁶ Which are turbid by reason of the ice, in which the snow hideth itself: ¹⁷ At the time they diminish, they are dried up; when heat affecteth them, they vanish from their place: ¹⁸ They wind about in the paths of their course, they go off into the waste and perish. ¹⁹ The caravans of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba counted on them: ²⁰ They are ashamed at their hope; they come thither, and are confounded. ²¹ So now ye are nothing; ye see a terrible object and are afraid.

²² Did I say, Bring unto me, and make me a present from your substance? ²³ Or, rescue me from the hand of the oppressor, and redeem me from the hand of the violent? ²⁴ Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. ²⁵ How forcible are right words! but what doth your upbraiding reprove? ²⁶ Do ye imagine to reprove words? The speeches of one that is desperate are indeed for the wind. ²⁷ Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend. ²⁸ Now therefore if ye will, look upon me; and it shall be to your face if I lie. ²⁹ Return, I pray you, let there be no wrong; yea, return again, my righteousness shall be in it. ³⁰ Is there wrong in my tongue? cannot my taste discern mischievous things?