Job 6

¹ Then Job answered and said: ² "O that my vexation could be weighed, yea weighed. And they could take up my woe upon the scales together with it. ³ Because now it is heavier than the sand of the seas, Therefore my words are impetuous. ⁴ For the arrows of Him Who Suffices are in me; Their venom is what my spirit has been drinking; Frightenings from Eloah are arrayed against me. ⁵ Does an onager bray over verdure? Would a bull low over its fodder? ⁶ Is insipid food being eaten without salt? Or is there taste in the ooze of purslane? ⁷ My soul refuses to touch them; They are like bread of sickness to me. ⁸ O that He would grant that my request would come, That Eloah would grant my expectation, ⁹ That Eloah would be disposed to crush me! May He let loose His hand and clip me off! ¹⁰ Then there would still be some consolation for me, And I would caper in this travail which He is not sparing, For I have not suppressed the words of the Holy One. ¹¹ What is my vigor that I should wait? And what is my end that I should prolong my soul? ¹² Is my vigor the vigor of stones, Or my flesh like copper? ¹³ Isn't it that there is nothing in me to help myself, And all prosperity has been expelled from me? ¹⁴ For one who is overthrown there should be kindness from his associates, Even if he should forsake the fear of Him Who Suffices. ¹⁵ My brothers, they are treacherous like a watercourse, Like a channel of watercourses that overflow, ¹⁶ That become somber because of ice, And snow obscures them. ¹⁷ In the season when they thaw they are effaced; When it is warm they are extinguished from their place. ¹⁸ Caravans are sent aside from their way; They ascend into the wasteland and perish. ¹⁹ The caravans of Tema look for waters; The wayfarers of Sheba expect to find them. ²⁰ But they are ashamed that each one trusted the place; They come to it, and they are abashed. ²¹ Thus have you now become to me; You see dismay, and you are fearful. ²² Indeed have I said, Grant something to me? Or, Pay a bribe from your fortune in my behalf? ²³ Or, Make my escape from the hand of the foe? Or, You shall ransom me from the hand of terrifiers? ²⁴ Direct me, and I shall keep silent, And where I have erred, make me understand. ²⁵ How savory are words of uprightness, Yet how can correction from you be correcting? ²⁶ Are you designing to correct with declarations, Yet mean to treat as wind the words of a desperate man? ²⁷ Indeed, you would cast lots for the orphan, And you would barter over your associate. ²⁸ Yet now be kindly disposed; face me, For should I lie to your face? ²⁹ Relent, I pray; let it not become iniquity, And relent further; my righteousness is at stake in it. ³⁰ Is there iniquity on my tongue? Or does not my palate understand woes?"