Job 6:14-30 - You Have Not Treated Me Like True Friends

¹⁴
“For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
So that he does not abandon (turn away from) the fear of the Almighty.
¹⁵
“My brothers have acted deceitfully like a brook,
Like the torrents of brooks that vanish,
¹⁶
Which are dull and dirty because of ice,
And into which the snow melts and hides itself;
¹⁷
When it is warm, they are silent and cease to flow;
When it is hot, they vanish from their place.
¹⁸
“The paths of their course wind along,
They go up into nothing and perish.
[Your counsel is as helpful to me as a dry streambed in the heat of summer.]
¹⁹
“The caravans of Tema looked [for water],
The caravans of Sheba waited for them [in vain].
²⁰
“They were put to shame and disappointed because they had trusted [that they would find water];
They came there and were ashamed.
²¹
“Indeed, you have now become like a dried-up stream,
You see a terror [believing me to be a victim of the wrath of God] and are afraid [to be compassionate].
²²
“Did I ever say, ‘Give me something,’
Or, ‘Pay a bribe for me from your wealth,’
²³
Or, ‘Rescue me from the adversary’s hand,’
Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of the tyrants’?

²⁴
“Teach me, and I will be silent;
And show me how I have erred.
²⁵
“How painful are words of honesty.
But what does your argument prove?
²⁶
“Do you intend to reprove my words [with a convincing argument],
When the words of one in despair belong to the wind [and go ignored]?
²⁷
“You would cast lots (gamble) over the fatherless
And bargain away your friend.

²⁸
“Now please look at me,
And see if I lie to your face [for you know that I would not].
²⁹
“Turn away [from your suspicion], let there be no injustice;
Turn away, my righteousness and vindication is still in it.
³⁰
“Is there injustice or malice on my tongue?
Can my palate not discern what is destructive?