Job 6
What Happens in This Chapter
Job answers his friends for the first time. He says his pain is heavier than sand, and he wishes God would let him die. Then he turns on his three friends: they are like desert streams that dry up right when thirsty travelers need them. He asks them to show him what he did wrong instead of only arguing with him.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
But Job answered and said,
1Then Job answered his friends. He said:
2Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
2I wish someone could weigh my sadness. I wish my troubles could be set on a scale.
3For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
3It would weigh more than all the sand by the sea. That is why my words came out wild.
4For 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.
4God the Almighty has shot arrows into me. My spirit drinks in their poison. God's terrors stand in a line against me.
5Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
5A wild donkey does not bray when it has grass. An ox does not low when it has food.
6Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
6Nobody eats food with no taste unless salt is added. The white of an egg has no flavor at all.
7The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
7I refuse even to touch such food. But now this is the sad food I live on.
In the King James Bible, "meat" means food of any kind, not just meat from animals.
8Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
8I wish I could have what I ask for. I wish God would give me the thing I long for.
9Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
9I wish God would be willing to crush me. I wish he would reach out and end my life.
10Then 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.
10That would still comfort me. Even in pain that never stops, I would be glad. I never hid away the words of the Holy One, who is God.
11What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
11I am not strong enough to keep on hoping. I have nothing ahead worth waiting for.
12Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
12I am not made out of stone. My body is not made out of metal.
13Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
13There is no help left inside me. Every way to get better has been pushed far away.
14To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
14A man in despair should get kindness from his friend. He should get it even if he stops honoring God the Almighty.
15My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
15My brothers have let me down. They are like a stream that runs full and then goes away.
Job is talking about streams in the desert. They are full when snow melts, but they dry up in hot weather. Travelers who count on them find nothing.
16Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
16In cold weather the streams look dark with ice. Melting snow fills them up.
17What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
17But in the dry season they stop. In the heat they dry up and disappear.
18The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
18Travelers turn off the road to look for them. They wander into empty land and die there.
19The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
19Groups of travelers from Tema look for that water. Travelers from Sheba hope to find it.
20They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
20They were so sure the water was there. They arrive, and they go away let down.
21For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
21Now you are no help at all. You see something frightening, and you get afraid.
22Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
22Did I ever say to you, Give me something? Did I ask you to pay money for me?
23Or, Deliver me from the enemy’s hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
23Did I ask you to save me from an enemy? Did I ask you to buy me back from a cruel man?
24Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
24Teach me, and I will be quiet. Help me understand what I did wrong.
25How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
25Honest words can hurt a lot. But what does your arguing prove?
26Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
26Do you plan to correct the words I say? I am hurting badly, and you treat my cries like wind.
27Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
27You would even cast lots to take a child whose father has died. You would trade away your own friend.
"The fatherless" means a child whose father has died. "Dig a pit for your friend" means to set a trap for him.
28Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
28Please stop now and look right at me. You can see that I would not lie to your face.
29Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
29Think it over again. Do not be unfair to me. Think again, because I have done nothing wrong.
30Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
30Is there any lie on my tongue? Can my mouth not taste when something is wrong?
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