Moff JOB Chapter 6

3 

’tis heavier than the sands of the sea.

That makes my words so wild.

4 

The Almighty has buried his arrows deep in me,

their poison stings my soul;

the terrors of God trouble me,

7 

2 my soul refuses to rest.

5 

Does a wild ass bray when he has grass?

Does an ox low at his fodder?

6 

Can one eat insipid food and saltless?

Has the white of an egg any flavour?

8 

Would that I had my desire!

Would that God granted my longing!

9 

Would that God were pleased to crush me,

to let his hand snap off my thread of life!

10 

That would be some comfort to me;

yes, I would exult in its unsparing pain.

11 

What strength have I to hold out?

What is before me, that I should be patient?

12 

Is my strength equal to the strength of stones,

is my flesh made of bronze?

13 

No, there is no help, none;

all saving aid has gone from me.

14 

Friends should be kind to a despairing man,

or he will give up faith in the Almighty;

15 

but my friends disappoint me 15 like a stream,

like mountain brooks that overflow their banks,

16 

swollen and dark with ice,

with melting snow,

17 

but vanishing when they are scorched,

and disappearing in the sum­mer’s glow;

18 

caravans turn to them, then turn away,

take to the desert and then perish;

19 

caravans from Tema look to them for water,

traders from Arabia are in hopes,

20 

but their hopes are disappointed,

they arrive and they are disconcerted;

21 

as I am over you--

you and your fears about my terrible fate!

22 

Did I ask you for a present,

or to pay bribes on my account,

23 

to rescue me from enemies,

to ransom me from bandits?

27 

(Ransom? you fall upon a blameless man,

you would make capital out of a friend!)

24 

Show me where I have gone wrong;

teach me—then I’ll hold my tongue.

25 

Honest reproof, how sweet it is!

But when you argue, what do you reprove?

26 

Words? is it words you mean to censure,

the whirling words of a man desperate?

28 

Come, look me in the face;

I swear I will not he to you.

29 

Do me no longer an injustice;

give over, no guilt has been proved against me.

30 

Am I too blunted to be sure of that?

Is there no sense of wrong left within me?