Job 6

וַיַּ֥עַן אִיּ֗וֹב וַיֹּאמַֽר׃

Then Job replied:

But Job answered and said,

ל֗וּ שָׁק֣וֹל יִשָּׁקֵ֣ל כַּעְשִׂ֑י (והיתי) [וְ֝הַוָּתִ֗י] בְּֽמֹאזְנַ֥יִם יִשְׂאוּ־יָֽחַד׃

“If only my grief could be weighed and placed with my calamity on the scales.

Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

כִּֽי־עַתָּ֗ה מֵח֣וֹל יַמִּ֣ים יִכְבָּ֑ד עַל־כֵּ֝֗ן דְּבָרַ֥י לָֽעוּ׃

For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas—no wonder my words have been rash.

For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.

כִּ֤י חִצֵּ֪י שַׁדַּ֡י עִמָּדִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֣ר חֲ֭מָתָם שֹׁתָ֣ה רוּחִ֑י בִּעוּתֵ֖י אֱל֣וֹהַּ יַֽעַרְכֽוּנִי׃

For the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me; my spirit drinks in their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.

הֲיִֽנְהַק־פֶּ֥רֶא עֲלֵי־דֶ֑שֶׁא אִ֥ם יִגְעֶה־שּׁ֝֗וֹר עַל־בְּלִילֽוֹ׃

Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass, or an ox low over its fodder?

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?

הֲיֵאָכֵ֣ל תָּ֭פֵל מִבְּלִי־מֶ֑לַח אִם־יֶשׁ־טַ֝֗עַם בְּרִ֣יר חַלָּמֽוּת׃

Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg?

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

מֵאֲנָ֣ה לִנְגּ֣וֹעַ נַפְשִׁ֑י הֵ֝֗מָּה כִּדְוֵ֥י לַחְמִֽי׃

My soul refuses to touch them; they are loathsome food to me.

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

מִֽי־יִ֭תֵּן תָּב֣וֹא שֶֽׁאֱלָתִ֑י וְ֝תִקְוָתִ֗י יִתֵּ֥ן אֱלֽוֹהַּ׃

If only my request were granted and God would fulfill my hope:

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

וְיֹאֵ֣ל אֱ֭לוֹהַּ וִֽידַכְּאֵ֑נִי יַתֵּ֥ר יָ֝ד֗וֹ וִֽיבַצְּעֵֽנִי׃

that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

וּ֥תְהִי ע֨וֹד ׀ נֶ֘חָ֤מָתִ֗י וַאֲסַלְּדָ֣ה בְ֭חִילָה לֹ֣א יַחְמ֑וֹל כִּי־לֹ֥א כִ֝חַ֗דְתִּי אִמְרֵ֥י קָדֽוֹשׁ׃

It still brings me comfort, and joy through unrelenting pain, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

מַה־כֹּחִ֥י כִֽי־אֲיַחֵ֑ל וּמַה־קִּ֝צִּ֗י כִּֽי־אַאֲרִ֥יךְ נַפְשִֽׁי׃

What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What is my future, that I should be patient?

What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?

אִם־כֹּ֣חַ אֲבָנִ֣ים כֹּחִ֑י אִֽם־בְּשָׂרִ֥י נָחֽוּשׁ׃

Is my strength like that of stone, or my flesh made of bronze?

Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

הַאִ֬ם אֵ֣ין עֶזְרָתִ֣י בִ֑י וְ֝תֻשִׁיָּ֗ה נִדְּחָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנִּי׃

Is there any help within me now that success is driven from me?

Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

לַמָּ֣ס מֵרֵעֵ֣הוּ חָ֑סֶד וְיִרְאַ֖ת שַׁדַּ֣י יַעֲזֽוֹב׃

A despairing man should have the kindness of his friend, even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.

אַ֭חַי בָּגְד֣וּ כְמוֹ־נָ֑חַל כַּאֲפִ֖יק נְחָלִ֣ים יַעֲבֹֽרוּ׃

But my brothers are as faithless as wadis, as seasonal streams that overflow,

My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;

הַקֹּדְרִ֥ים מִנִּי־קָ֑רַח עָ֝לֵ֗ימוֹ יִתְעַלֶּם־שָֽׁלֶג׃

darkened because of the ice and the inflow of melting snow,

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:

בְּ֭עֵת יְזֹרְב֣וּ נִצְמָ֑תוּ בְּ֝חֻמּ֗וֹ נִדְעֲכ֥וּ מִמְּקוֹמָֽם׃

but ceasing in the dry season and vanishing from their channels in the heat.

What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.

יִ֭לָּ֣פְתוּ אָרְח֣וֹת דַּרְכָּ֑ם יַעֲל֖וּ בַתֹּ֣הוּ וְיֹאבֵֽדוּ׃

Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.

The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.

הִ֭בִּיטוּ אָרְח֣וֹת תֵּמָ֑א הֲלִיכֹ֥ת שְׁ֝בָ֗א קִוּוּ־לָֽמוֹ׃

The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

בֹּ֥שׁוּ כִּֽי־בָטָ֑ח בָּ֥אוּ עָ֝דֶ֗יהָ וַיֶּחְפָּֽרוּ׃

They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.

They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.

כִּֽי־עַ֭תָּה הֱיִ֣יתֶם (לא) [ל֑וֹ] תִּֽרְא֥וּ חֲ֝תַ֗ת וַתִּירָֽאוּ׃

For now you are of no help; you see terror, and you are afraid.

For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.

הֲֽכִי־אָ֭מַרְתִּי הָ֣בוּ לִ֑י וּ֝מִכֹּחֲכֶ֗ם שִׁחֲד֥וּ בַעֲדִֽי׃

Have I ever said, ‘Give me something; offer me a bribe from your wealth;

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?

וּמַלְּט֥וּנִי מִיַּד־צָ֑ר וּמִיַּ֖ד עָרִיצִ֣ים תִּפְדּֽוּנִי׃

deliver me from the hand of the enemy; redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless’?

Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

ה֭וֹרוּנִי וַאֲנִ֣י אַחֲרִ֑ישׁ וּמַה־שָּׁ֝גִ֗יתִי הָבִ֥ינוּ לִֽי׃

Teach me, and I will be silent. Help me understand how I have erred.

Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

מַה־נִּמְרְצ֥וּ אִמְרֵי־יֹ֑שֶׁר וּמַה־יּוֹכִ֖יחַ הוֹכֵ֣חַ מִכֶּֽם׃

How painful are honest words! But what does your argument prove?

How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?

הַלְהוֹכַ֣ח מִלִּ֣ים תַּחְשֹׁ֑בוּ וּ֝לְר֗וּחַ אִמְרֵ֥י נֹאָֽשׁ׃

Do you intend to correct my words, and treat as wind my cry of despair?

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

אַף־עַל־יָת֥וֹם תַּפִּ֑ילוּ וְ֝תִכְר֗וּ עַל־רֵֽיעֲכֶֽם׃

You would even cast lots for an orphan and barter away your friend.

Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.

וְ֭עַתָּה הוֹאִ֣ילוּ פְנוּ־בִ֑י וְעַל־פְּ֝נֵיכֶ֗ם אִם־אֲכַזֵּֽב׃

But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?

Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.

שֻֽׁבוּ־נָ֭א אַל־תְּהִ֣י עַוְלָ֑ה (ושבי) [וְשׁ֥וּבוּ] ע֝וֹד צִדְקִי־בָֽהּ׃

Reconsider; do not be unjust. Reconsider, for my righteousness is at stake.

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

הֲיֵשׁ־בִּלְשׁוֹנִ֥י עַוְלָ֑ה אִם־חִ֝כִּ֗י לֹא־יָבִ֥ין הַוּֽוֹת׃

Is there iniquity on my tongue? Can my mouth not discern malice?

Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?