K¹ S 6:1-7. Job's excessive grief.
T 6:8-13. Death to be desired.
U 6:14-21. Remonstrance. [Their feelings.]
U 6:22-30. Remonstrance. [Their words.]
T 7:1-10. Death to be desired.
S 7:11-21. Job's excessive grief.
1656 B.C.
Job 6)
1 But Job replied and said,
2 "Oh that my grief (i.e. the cause of my grief) were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4 For the arrows (cp. Deut. 32:23,42. Ps. 38:2. Ezek. 5:16. Zech. 9:14) of The Almighty (Shaddai) are within me, the poison whereof drains up my spirit (perhaps in the sense of taking away his courage): the terrors of GOD (only here and Ps. 88:16) do set themselves in array against me.
5 Does the wild ass bray over grass? or lows the ox over his fodder?
6 Can that which is unsavory be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? ("Egg" occurs only here.)
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful bread. (Put for all kinds of food.)
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that GOD would grant me my expectation! (Put for the thing desired.)
9 Even that it would please GOD to crush me; that He would let loose His hand, and cut me off!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yes, Let me even exult in my anguish [should He not spare] that I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is my end, that I should prolong my soul?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13 Is not my help in me? and is stability driven quite from me? (See Prov. 2:7.)
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend; but he forsakes the fear of The Almighty.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a torrent retrained in a narrow channel (retrained in a narrow channel, natural or artificial, open as in a gorge, or covered as in an aqueduct, passing away, inaccessible, and out of sight. See 2 Sam. 22:16), and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go into a waste, and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema looked, the travelers of Sheba waited for them.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came there, and were ashamed.
21 For now you are nothing; you see my casting down, and are afraid.
22 Did I say, 'Bring unto me?' or, 'Give a reward for me of your strength?' (put for what is produced by it.)
23 Or, 'Deliver me from the enemy's hand?' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the adversary?'
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25 How forcible are right sayings! but what does your arguing convince? (i.e. what can a reproof from you reprove?)
26 Do you imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27 Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you dig a pit for your friend.
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident to you if I lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yes, return again, my righteousness is in it.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?