Job 6

Job

1 Then Job replied:


2 "If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!


3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.


4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me,
my spirit drinks in their poison;
God's terrors are marshaled against me.

5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass,
or an ox bellow when it has fodder?

6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the white of an egg?

7 I refuse to touch it;
such food makes me ill.

8 "Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,


9 that God would be willing to crush me,
to let loose his hand and cut me off!

10 Then I would still have this consolation—
my joy in unrelenting pain—
that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

11 "What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What prospects, that I should be patient?


12 Do I have the strength of stone?
Is my flesh bronze?


13 Do I have any power to help myself,
now that success has been driven from me?

14 "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends,
even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,
as the streams that overflow


16 when darkened by thawing ice
and swollen with melting snow,


17 but that cease to flow in the dry season,
and in the heat vanish from their channels.


18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go up into the wasteland and perish.


19 The caravans of Tema look for water,
the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope.

20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
they arrive there, only to be disappointed.


21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
you see something dreadful and are afraid.


22 Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf,
pay a ransom for me from your wealth,


23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
ransom me from the clutches of the ruthless'?


24 "Teach me, and I will be quiet;
show me where I have been wrong.


25 How painful are honest words!
But what do your arguments prove?


26 Do you mean to correct what I say,
and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?


27 You would even cast lots for the fatherless
and barter away your friend.


28 "But now be so kind as to look at me.
Would I lie to your face?


29 Relent, do not be unjust;
reconsider, for my integrity is at stake.


30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?
Can my mouth not discern malice?

Side Notes:

vs 6-7 Job referred to Eliphaz's advice as eating the tasteless white of an egg. When people are going through trials, ill advice can be distasteful...people may listen to what you are saying but inside they are upset. Have you ever felt that way after someone gave you some advise? Be slow to speak and slow to give advice to someone who is hurting...sometimes they just need a little compassion and an ear to listen rather than advise from you.

vs. 8-9 Job just wanted to give in, to be free from his discomfort and trials, and he wanted to die. But God did not grant his request. He had a greater plan for Job. Don't we tend to be like Job...we want to give in when the going gets tough?! To trust God in the good times is commendable, but to trust him during the difficult times test us to our limits and exercises our faith. In our struggles, whether they are big or small, we need to trust that God is in control and that he will take care of you (Romans 8:28).

vs. 29-30 Job referred to his own integrity, not because he was sinless, but because he had a right relationship with God. He was not guilty of the sins his friends accused him of (in chapter 31 we'll get a summary of the life he had led). Another rendering of this verse could read, "My righteousness still stands." Righteousness is not the same as sinlessness (Roman 3:23). No one but Jesus has ever been sinless, which means to be free from all wrong thoughts and actions. Even Job needed to make some changes in his attitude toward God, as we will see by the end of the book. Nevertheless, Job was righteous (1:8). He carefully obeyed God to the best of his ability in all aspects of his life.