Chapter 6

¹But Job answered, and said: ²O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath, and the calamity that I suffer, were weighed in a balance. ³As the sand of the sea this would appear heavier: therefore my words are full of sorrow : ⁴For the arrows of the Lord are in me, the rage whereof drinketh up my spirit, and the terrors of the Lord war against me. ⁵Will the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or will the ox low when he standeth before a full manger? ⁶Or can an unsavoury thing be eaten, that is not seasoned with salt? or can a man taste that which when tasted bringeth death? ⁷The things which before my soul would not touch, now, through anguish are my meats. ⁸Who will grant that my request may come: and that God may give me what I look for? ⁹And that he that hath begun may destroy me, that he may let loose his hand, and cut me off? ¹⁰And that this may be my comfort, that afflicting me with sorrow, he spare not, nor I contradict the words of the Holy One. ¹¹For what is my strength, that I can hold out? or what is my end that I should keep patience? ¹²My strength is not the strength of stones, nor 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 the Lord. ¹⁵My brethren have passed by me, as the torrent that passeth swiftly in the valleys. ¹⁶They that fear the hoary frost, the snow shall fall upon them. ¹⁷At the time when they shall be scattered they shall perish: and after it groweth hot they shall be melted out of their place. ¹⁸The paths of their steps are entangled: they shall walk in vain, and shall perish. ¹⁹Consider the paths of Thema, the ways of Saba, and wait 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 now seeing my affliction you are afraid. ²²Did I say: Bring to me, and give me of your substance? ²³Or deliver me from the hand of the enemy, and rescue me out of the hand of the mighty? ²⁴Teach me, and I will hold my peace: and if I have been ignorant in any thing, instruct me. ²⁵Why have you detracted the words of truth, whereas there is none of you that can reprove me? ²⁶You dress up speeches only to rebuke, and you utter words to the wind. ²⁷You rush in upon the fatherless, and you endeavour to overthrow your friend. ²⁸However finish what 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 And iniquity in my tongue, neither shall folly sound in my mouth.