Job 6

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 But Job answered and said,	1 Job spoke next. He said:
2 Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!	2 If only my misery could be weighed, and al my il s be put together on the scales!
3 For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.	3 But they outweigh the sands of the seas: what wonder then if my words are wild?
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.	4 The arrows of Shaddai stick fast in me, my spirit absorbs their poison, God's terrors stand paradedagainst me.
5 Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?	5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox low when its fodder is within reach?
6 Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?	6 Is not food insipid, eaten without salt, is there any taste in egg-white?
7 The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.	7 But the very things my appetite revolts at are now my diet in sickness.
8 Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!	8 Will no one hear my prayer, will not God himself grant my hope?
9 Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!	9 May it please God to crush me, to give his hand free play and do away with me!
10 Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.	10 This thought, at least, would give me comfort (a thril of joy in unrelenting pain), that I never rebel edagainst the Holy One's decrees.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?	11 But have I the strength to go on waiting? And why be patient, when doomed to such an end?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?	12 Is mine the strength of stone, is my flesh made of bronze?
13 Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?	13 Can I support myself on nothing? Has not al help deserted me?
14 To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.	14 Refuse faithful love to your neighbour and you forsake the fear of Shaddai.
15 My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;	15 Like the torrent, my brothers have proved deceptive, as fleeting torrents they flow:
16 Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:	16 the ice makes their waters turgid when, above them, the snow melts,
17 What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.	17 but, come the burning summer, they run dry, they vanish in the heat of the sun.
18 The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.	18 Caravans leave the trail to find them, go deep into wastelands, and are lost.
19 The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.	19 The caravans of Tema look to them, and on them Sheba's convoys build their hopes.
20 They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.	20 Their trust brings only embarrassment, they reach them only to be thwarted.
21 For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.	21 And this is how you now treat me, terrified at the sight of me, you take fright.
22 Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?	22 Have I said to you, 'Give me something, make some present for me at your own cost,
23 Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?	23 snatch me from the grasp of an oppressor, ransom me from the grip of a violent man'?
24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.	24 Put me right, and I shal say no more; show me where I have been at fault.
25 How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?	25 Fair comment can be borne without resentment, but what are your strictures aimed at?
26 Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?	26 Do you think mere words deserve censure, desperate speech that the wind blows away?
27 Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.	27 Soon you wil be haggling over the price of an orphan, and sel ing your friend at bargain price!
28 Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.	28 Come, I beg you, look at me: man to man, I shal not lie.
29 Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.	29 Relent then, no harm is done; relent then, since I am upright.
30 Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?	30 Is evil to be found on my lips? Can I not recognise misfortune when I taste it?