Job 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

6 Then Job spoke again:

2 “If my misery could be weighed
and my troubles be put on the scales,
3 they would outweigh all the sands of the sea.
That is why I spoke impulsively.
4 For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows.
Their poison infects my spirit.
God’s terrors are lined up against me.
5 Don’t I have a right to complain?
Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass,
and oxen bellow when they have no food?
6 Don’t people complain about unsalted food?
Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg?[a]
7 My appetite disappears when I look at it;
I gag at the thought of eating it!

8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant my desire.
9 I wish he would crush me.
I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me.
10 At least I can take comfort in this:
Despite the pain,
I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 But I don’t have the strength to endure.
I have nothing to live for.
12 Do I have the strength of a stone?
Is my body made of bronze?
13 No, I am utterly helpless,
without any chance of success.

14 “One should be kind to a fainting friend,
but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.[b]
15 My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook
that overflows its banks in the spring
16 when it is swollen with ice and melting snow.
17 But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears.
The brook vanishes in the heat.
18 The caravans turn aside to be refreshed,
but there is nothing to drink, so they die.
19 The caravans from Tema search for this water;
the travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
20 They count on it but are disappointed.
When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.
21 You, too, have given no help.
You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.
22 But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift?
Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?
23 Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies,
or to save me from ruthless people?
24 Teach me, and I will keep quiet.
Show me what I have done wrong.
25 Honest words can be painful,
but what do your criticisms amount to?
26 Do you think your words are convincing
when you disregard my cry of desperation?
27 You would even send an orphan into slavery[c]
or sell a friend.
28 Look at me!
Would I lie to your face?
29 Stop assuming my guilt,
for I have done no wrong.
30 Do you think I am lying?
Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong?

Footnotes

  1. 6:6 Or the tasteless juice of the mallow plant?
  2. 6:14 Or friend, / or he might lose his fear of the Almighty.
  3. 6:27 Hebrew even gamble over an orphan.

You Might Also Like:

Job 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 And Job answereth and saith: -- 2 O that my provocation were thoroughly weighed, And my calamity in balances They would lift up together! 3 For now, than the sands of the sea it is heavier, Therefore my words have been rash. 4 For arrows of the Mighty [are] with me, Whose poison is drinking up my ...
Read More

Job 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 And Job answered, and said, 2 I would (I wish), that my sins, by which I have deserved the wrath of God, and the wretchedness which I suffer, were weighed in a balance. 3 As the gravel of the sea, this wretchedness should appear more grievous; wherefore and my words be full of sorrow. (For this wr...
Read More

Job 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 Then Job answered, 2 “Oh that my anguish were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas, therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me. My spirit drinks up their poison.The terrors of God set themsel...
Read More

Job 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

The first of Job’s three wise friends, Eliphaz, is a man guided by strong convictions and a belief in the accumulated knowledge of his ancestors. Because he thinks Job is suffering due to his own unintended sins, Eliphaz dwells on God’s responses to the wicked and the righteous, believing he will en...
Read More

Job 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Job Cries For Justice6 Job responded and said: 2 “If only my grief could be weighed and my calamity placed on the scales.3 For it outweighs the sands of the sea; that is why my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of Shaddai are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison;God’s terrors line up against ...
Read More

Job 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just6 Then Job answered: 2 “O that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the...
Read More

Job 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just6 Then Job answered: 2 “O that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the...
Read More

Job 6 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just6 Then Job answered: 2 “O that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty[a] are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; ...
Read More

Job 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just6 Then Job answered:2 ‘O that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.4 For the arrows of the Almighty[a] are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; t...
Read More

Job 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just6 Then Job answered:2 “O that my vexation were weighed and all my calamity laid in the balances!(A)3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.(B)4 For the arrows of the Almighty[a] are in me; my spirit drinks their pois...
Read More

Job 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz6 Then Job spoke again: 2 “If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales,3 they would outweigh all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke impulsively.4 For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spiri...
Read More

Job 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

Job Speaks6 Then Job answered, 2 “If only my trials and troubles were weighed! 3 They would weigh more than the sand of the seas. My words have been spoken fast and without thought. 4 For the arrows of the All-powerful are in me. My spirit drinks their poison. The hard things from God are like an...
Read More

Job 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Job: My Complaint Is Just6 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed,And my calamity laid with it on the scales!3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea—Therefore my words have been rash.4 (A)For the arrows of the Almighty are within me;My spirit drinks in th...
Read More

Job 6 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Job6 Then Job replied: 2 ‘If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas – no wonder my words have been impetuous.4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshalled agai...
Read More

Job 6 - New International Version (NIV)

Job6 Then Job replied: 2 “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!(A)3 It would surely outweigh the sand(B) of the seas— no wonder my words have been impetuous.(C)4 The arrows(D) of the Almighty(E) are in me,(F) my spirit drinks(G) in their poison;(H) God’s terr...
Read More

Job 6 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Job’s Reply6 Job replied, 2 “I wish my great pain could be weighed! I wish all my suffering could be weighed on scales!3 I’m sure it would weigh more than the grains of sand on the seashore. No wonder I’ve been so quick to speak!4 The Mighty One has shot me with his arrows. I have to drink their poi...
Read More

Job 6 - New Century Version (NCV)

Job Answers Eliphaz6 Then Job answered: 2 “I wish my suffering could be weighed and my misery put on scales.3 My sadness would be heavier than the sand of the seas. No wonder my words seem careless.4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are gathered a...
Read More