Job 6:1-30 - Job's Second Speech: A Response To Eliphaz

¹ But Job answered and said, ² Oh that 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 of the Almighty are within me, the poison thereof drinks up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me. ⁵ Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass? or the ox lows over its fodder? ⁶ Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg? ⁷ The things that my soul refused to touch are as loathsome food to me.

⁸ Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! ⁹ Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! ¹⁰ Then should I still have comfort; yea, I would exult myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for 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 life? ¹² Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of bronze? ¹³ Is not my help within me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?

¹⁴ To him that is afflicted pity should be shown from his friend; even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. ¹⁵ My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks that pass away; ¹⁶ Which are black by reason of the ice, and in which the snow is hid: ¹⁷ At what time they become warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they vanish out of their place. ¹⁸ The paths of their way turn aside; they go nowhere, and perish. ¹⁹ The caravans of Tema looked, the travelers of Sheba waited for them. ²⁰ They were disappointed because they had confidence; they came there, and were confused. ²¹ For now you are nothing; you see my terror, and are afraid. ²² Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance? ²³ Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?

²⁴ Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand how I have erred. ²⁵ How forceful are right words! but what does your arguing prove? ²⁶ Do you intend to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind? ²⁷ Yea, you overwhelm the fatherless, and you dig a pit for your friend.

²⁸ Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie. ²⁹ Return, I pray you, let it not be injustice; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it. ³⁰ Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?

¹ Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of a hireling? ² As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as a hireling looks for the reward of his work: ³ So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. ⁴ When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. ⁵ My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

⁶ My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. ⁷ O remember that my life is a breath: my eye shall no more see good. ⁸ The eye of him that has seen me shall see me no more: your eyes are upon me, and I am not. ⁹ As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more. ¹⁰ He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.

¹¹ Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. ¹² Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you set a watch over me? ¹³ When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; ¹⁴ Then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions: ¹⁵ So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life. ¹⁶ I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.

¹⁷ What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart upon him? ¹⁸ And that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment? ¹⁹ How long will you not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? ²⁰ I have sinned; what shall I do unto you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself? ²¹ And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.