Job 6:1-7 - Compare All Versions

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Then Job replied: “If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas— no wonder my words have been impetuous. The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshaled against me. Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder? Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow? I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill.

Then Job answered and said: “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash. For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder? Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow? My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.

Then Job spoke again: “If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales, they would outweigh all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke impulsively. For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God’s terrors are lined up against me. Don’t I have a right to complain? Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass, and oxen bellow when they have no food? Don’t people complain about unsalted food? Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg? My appetite disappears when I look at it; I gag at the thought of eating it!

Then Job answered: If only my grief could be weighed and my devastation  placed with it on the scales.  For then it would outweigh the sand of the seas! That is why my words are rash. Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced   me; my spirit drinks their poison. God’s terrors are arrayed against me.  Does a wild donkey bray over fresh grass or an ox low over its fodder? Is bland food eaten without salt? Is there flavor in an egg white?  I refuse to touch them; they are like contaminated food.

But Job answered and said, Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, And my calamity laid in the balances together! For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: Therefore my words are swallowed up. 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. Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder? Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? The things that my soul refused to touch Are as my sorrowful meat.

Then Job answered and said: “Oh, that my grief were fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea— Therefore my words have been rash. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; My spirit drinks in their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me. Does the wild donkey bray when it has grass, Or does the ox low over its fodder? Can flavorless food be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? My soul refuses to touch them; They are as loathsome food to me.

Job answered: “If my misery could be weighed, if you could pile the whole bitter load on the scales, It would be heavier than all the sand of the sea! Is it any wonder that I’m howling like a caged cat? The arrows of God Almighty are in me, poison arrows—and I’m poisoned all through! God has dumped the whole works on me. Donkeys bray and cows moo when they run out of pasture— so don’t expect me to keep quiet in this. Do you see what God has dished out for me? It’s enough to turn anyone’s stomach! Everything in me is repulsed by it— it makes me sick.

Then Job responded, “Oh if only my grief were actually weighed And laid in the balances together with my disaster! “For then it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; For that reason my words have been rash. “For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, My spirit drinks their poison; The terrors of God line up against me. “Does the wild donkey bray over his grass, Or does the ox low over his feed? “Can something tasteless be eaten without salt, Or is there any taste in the juice of an alkanet plant? “My soul refuses to touch them; They are like loathsome food to me.

Then Job answered and said, “Oh, that my grief could actually be weighed And placed in the balances together with my tragedy [to see if my grief is the grief of a coward]! “For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; Therefore my words have been incoherent, Because the arrows of the Almighty are within me, My spirit drinks their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me. “Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass? Or does the ox low over his fodder? “Can something that has no taste to it be eaten without salt? Or is there any flavor in the white of an egg? “My soul refuses to touch them; Such things are like loathsome food to me [sickening and repugnant].

Then Job responded: “Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too! But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild. For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison; God’s sudden terrors are arrayed against me. “Does the wild donkey bray when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder? Can food that is tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg? I have refused to touch such things; they are like loathsome food to me.