Job 6

¹But Job answering, said:

²would God my sins were weighed, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity, which I suffer, in a balance.

³As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier, wherefore my words also are full of sorrow:

⁴Because the arrows of our Lord be in me, the indignation whereof drinketh up my spirit, & the terrors of our Lord war against me.

⁵Will the wild ass roar when he hath grass? Or the oxe loweth when he shall stand before the full manger?

⁶Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with salt? Or can a man taste that which being tasted bringeth death?

⁷The things which before my soul would not touch, now for anguish are my meats.

⁸Who will grant that my petition may come: and that God would give me that which I expect?

⁹And he that hath begun, the same would loose his hand, and cut me off?

¹⁰And this might be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not, nor I gainsay the words of the Holy one.

¹¹For what is my strength, that I can sustain it? Or what is mine end, that I should do patiently?

¹²Neither is my strength the strength of stones, neither is my flesh of brass.

¹³Behold there is no help for me in myself, and my familiar friends also are departed from me.

¹⁴He that taketh away mercy from his friend, forsaketh the fear of our Lord.

¹⁵My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys.

¹⁶They that fear the hoarfrost, snow shall fall upon them.

¹⁷At the time, when they shall be dissipated they shall perish: & after they wax hot they shall be dissolved out of their place.

¹⁸The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, & shall perish.

¹⁹Consider ye the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and expect a little while.

²⁰They are confounded, because I have hoped: they are come also even unto me, and are covered with shame.

²¹Now you are come: and even now seeing my plague you are afraid.

²²Have I said: Bring ye to me, and of your substance give to me?

²³Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and out of the hand of the strong deliver me?

²⁴Teach ye me, and I will hold my peace: and if I perhaps have been ignorant in any thing, instruct ye me.

²⁵Why have you detracted from the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can control me?

²⁶To rebuke only you frame speeches, and you utter words in the wind.

²⁷You rush in upon a pupil, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend.

²⁸Notwithstanding accomplish that which you have begun: give ear, and see whether I lie.

²⁹Answer I beseech you without contention: and speaking that which is just, judge ye.

³⁰And you shall not find iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my jaws.