Job’s Reply to Eliphaz
2
3
For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas!
That is why my words are rash.
4
5 That is why my words are rash.
Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass
or an ox low over its fodder?
6
7 or an ox low over its fodder?
8
If only my request would be granted
and God would provide what I hope for:
9 and God would provide what I hope for:
that He would decide to crush me,
to unleash His power and cut me off!
10 to unleash His power and cut me off!
It would still bring me comfort,
and I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain
that I have not denied(c) the words of the Holy One.(E)
and I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain
that I have not denied(c) the words of the Holy One.(E)
11
What strength do I have that I should continue to hope?
What is my future, that I should be patient?
12 What is my future, that I should be patient?
Is my strength that of stone,
or my flesh made of bronze?
13 or my flesh made of bronze?
Since I cannot help myself,
the hope for success has been banished from me.
the hope for success has been banished from me.
14
15
My brothers are as treacherous as a wadi,
as seasonal streams that overflow
16
17 as seasonal streams that overflow
The wadis evaporate in warm weather;
they disappear from their channels in hot weather.
18 they disappear from their channels in hot weather.
Caravans turn away from their routes,
go up into the desert, and perish.
19 go up into the desert, and perish.
The caravans of Tema look for these streams.
The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
20 The traveling merchants of Sheba hope for them.
They are ashamed because they had been confident of finding water.
When they arrive there, they are frustrated.(G)
21
22 When they arrive there, they are frustrated.(G)
Have I ever said: “Give me something”
or “Pay a bribe for me from your wealth”
23 or “Pay a bribe for me from your wealth”
or “Deliver me from the enemy’s power”
or “Redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless”?
or “Redeem me from the grasp of the ruthless”?
Footnotes:
a.
Job 6:4: Lit Almighty are in
b.
Job 6:6: Hb obscure
c.
Job 6:10: Lit hidden
d.
Job 6:14: Lit To the despairing his friend loyalty
e.
Job 6:16: Or turbid
f.
Job 6:21: Alt Hb tradition reads So you have now become nothing