1Job answered and said:2If only my vexation were weighed—it would be weighed with him. My calamity and my suffering together they would lift in scales.3For now the sand of days is heavy; therefore words to Le'ū.4For the arrows of Shaddai are in me, whose poison their wrath drinks up; the terrors that God sends against me.5Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass? Does an ox low over its fodder?6Does one eat insipid food without salt? Or is there taste in slippery dreams?7My vital life force refuses to touch them; they are like loathsome food to my bread.8Who will grant my request, and God will grant my hope?9And may God be willing and crush me; may his hand utterly shatter me.10And it will still be my comfort, and I will exult in anguish—it will not spare, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.11What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should prolong my nephesh?12If the power of stones is my power, if my flesh is bronze.13Is there not my help with me, and soundness driven away from me?14To the one who withholds kindness from his companion and the fear of Shaddai—he abandons.15My brothers have betrayed me like a wadi, like a channel of wadis. They pass over.16The dark ones from Korah—it hides itself upon them—snow.17At the time they are poured out, their channel is scorched; in the heat they are extinguished from their place.18They turn aside from their path; they go up into the tohu and perish.19Look at the ways of Tema, the ways of Sheba; they wait for them.20They were ashamed, for they trusted and came to nothing, and they dug.21For now you have become like him—you see terror and fear.22Is it that I said, "Give to me and from your power bribe on my behalf"?23Or, "Deliver me from the hand of the enemy and from the hand of the tyrants; redeem me"?24Teach me, and I will be silent; and if I have erred, make me understand it.25How are upright words made forceful? And how does rebuke from you reprove?26Do you reckon words convict, and words of despair to the spirit?27You even cast lots over an orphan and bargain over your companion.28And now, please be willing—turn to me, and it will not be wrong: if I have deceived.29Return now—do not be unjust, and return still to my righteousness in it.30Is there injustice on my tongue? Or does my palate not discern ruin?
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Chapter 7
1Is not service to man on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired servant?2Like a servant who pants for the shadow, and like a hired man who waits for his work.3In this way I have inherited for myself months of emptiness, and nights of suffering they have numbered for me.4If I lie down, I say, "When will I arise, and evening stretches?" and I am sated with tossings until darkness.5My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin trembles and is loathed.6My days have passed faster than a weaver's shuttle, and they have finished in nothingness—hope.7Remember that my spirit will not return; my eye will not see good.8"You will not look on me; the eye that sees me will see me no more."9A cloud passes and goes away; so one who goes down to Sheol will not ascend.10He will not return to his house again, nor will his place see him again.11Also, I will not restrain my mouth. I will speak in the distress of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my nephesh.12Am I a sea or a sea-monster that you set a detention over me?13For I said, "My couch will comfort me; my bed will bear my sighing."14Then you terrify me with dreams and dismay me with visions.15So she chooses strangling instead of my soul, death from my bones.16I will not reject forever. I will cease living because of הבל my days.17What is man that you magnify him and that you set your heart on him?18And you visit him every morning and test him every moment.19How long will you not look away from me or let your hand grow slack from me until you swallow me up, you who see me as mere breath?20I have sinned—what will I do for you, O watcher of Adam? Why have you set me as a target for yourself, and why do I become a burden to myself?21And why do you not bear my transgression and pass over my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, and you will seek me, but I will not be.