Job
6 Then responded Job and said:—
2 Oh that weighed were my vexation, And my engulphing ruin—into the balances they would lift up all at once!
3 For now beyond the sand of the seas would it be heavy, On this account my words have wandered.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me, The heat whereof my spirit is drinking up, The terrors of God array themselves against me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray over grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7 My soul hath refused to touch, Those things are like disease in my food.
8 Oh that my request would come! And my hope oh that God would grant!
9 That it would please God to crush me, That he would set free his hand and cut me off!
10 So might it still be my comfort And I might exult in the anguish he would not spare,—That I had not concealed the sayings of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength that I should hope? Or what mine end that I should prolong my desire?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of bronze?
13 Is there any help at all in me? Is not abiding success driven from me?
14 The despairing from his friend should have lovingkindness, Or the reverence of the Almighty he may forsake.
15 Mine own brethren have proved treacherous like a torrent, Like a channel of torrents which disappear:
16 Which darken by reason of the cold, Over them is a covering made by the snow:
17 By the time they begin to thaw they are dried up, As soon as it is warm they have vanished out of their place.
18 Caravans turn aside by their course, They go up into a waste and are lost:
19 The caravans of Tema looked about, The travelling companies of Sheba hoped for them:
20 They are ashamed that they had trusted, They have come up to one of them and are confounded.
21 For now ye have come to him, Ye see something fearful and fear.
22 Is it that I said, Make me a gift, Or out of your abundance offer a bribe on my behalf;
23 And deliver me from the hand of the adversary? And out of the hand of tyrants ransom me?
24 Shew me and I will hold my peace, And wherein I have erred cause me to understand.
25 How pleasant are the sayings that are right! But what can a decision from you decide?
26 To decide words do ye intend, When to the wind are spoken the sayings of one in despair?
27 Surely the fatherless ye would assail, And make merchandise of your friend!
28 But now be pleased to turn to me, That it may be to your faces if I speak falsehood.
29 Reply, I pray you, let there be no perversity, Yea reply even yet, my vindication is in it!
30 Is there in my tongue perversity? Or can my sense not discern engulphing ruin?