Read Scripture ad-free with Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Job 6
New International Version

### Job

6 Then Job replied:

2 “If only my anguish could be weighed
and all my misery be placed on the scales!(A)
3 It would surely outweigh the sand(B) of the seas—
no wonder my words have been impetuous.(C)
4 The arrows(D) of the Almighty(E) are in me,(F)
my spirit drinks(G) in their poison;(H)
God’s terrors(I) are marshaled against me.(J)
5 Does a wild donkey(K) bray(L) when it has grass,
or an ox bellow when it has fodder?(M)
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow[a]?(N)
7 I refuse to touch it;
such food makes me ill.(O)

8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
that God would grant what I hope for,(P)
9 that God would be willing to crush(Q) me,
to let loose his hand and cut off my life!(R)
10 Then I would still have this consolation(S)—
my joy in unrelenting pain(T)—
that I had not denied the words(U) of the Holy One.(V)

11 “What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
What prospects, that I should be patient?(W)
12 Do I have the strength of stone?
Is my flesh bronze?(X)
13 Do I have any power to help myself,(Y)
now that success has been driven from me?

14 “Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend(Z)
forsakes the fear of the Almighty.(AA)
15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,(AB)
as the streams that overflow
16 when darkened by thawing ice
and swollen with melting snow,(AC)
17 but that stop flowing in the dry season,
and in the heat(AD) vanish from their channels.
18 Caravans turn aside from their routes;
they go off into the wasteland and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema(AE) look for water,
the traveling merchants of Sheba(AF) look in hope.
20 They are distressed, because they had been confident;
they arrive there, only to be disappointed.(AG)
21 Now you too have proved to be of no help;
you see something dreadful and are afraid.(AH)
22 Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,
pay a ransom(AI) for me from your wealth,(AJ)
23 deliver me from the hand of the enemy,
rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’?(AK)

24 “Teach me, and I will be quiet;(AL)
show me where I have been wrong.(AM)
25 How painful are honest words!(AN)
But what do your arguments prove?
26 Do you mean to correct what I say,
and treat my desperate words as wind?(AO)
27 You would even cast lots(AP) for the fatherless(AQ)
and barter away your friend.

28 “But now be so kind as to look at me.
Would I lie to your face?(AR)
29 Relent, do not be unjust;(AS)
reconsider, for my integrity(AT) is at stake.[b](AU)
30 Is there any wickedness on my lips?(AV)
Can my mouth not discern(AW) malice?

#### Footnotes

1. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
2. Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands

#### Cross references

1. Job 6:2 : Job 31:6; Pr 11:1; Da 5:27
2. Job 6:3 : 1Ki 4:29; Pr 27:3
3. Job 6:3 : ver 11, 26; Job 7:11; 16:6; 21:4; 23:2
4. Job 6:4 : S Dt 32:23; Ps 38:2
5. Job 6:4 : S Ge 17:1
6. Job 6:4 : Job 7:20; 16:12, 13; 19:12; La 3:12
7. Job 6:4 : Job 21:20
8. Job 6:4 : S Dt 32:32; Job 30:21; 34:6; Jer 15:18; 30:12
9. Job 6:4 : Job 9:34; 13:21; 18:11; 23:6; 27:20; 30:15; 33:16
10. Job 6:4 : S Job 3:23; Ps 88:15-18
11. Job 6:5 : S Ge 16:12
12. Job 6:5 : Job 30:7
13. Job 6:5 : Job 24:6; Isa 30:24
14. Job 6:6 : Job 33:20; Ps 107:18
15. Job 6:7 : S Job 3:24
16. Job 6:8 : Job 14:13
17. Job 6:9 : Job 19:2
18. Job 6:9 : S Nu 11:15; S Ps 31:22
19. Job 6:10 : S Job 2:11; 15:11; Ps 94:19
20. Job 6:10 : Ps 38:17; Jer 4:19; 45:3
21. Job 6:10 : Job 22:22; 23:12; Ps 119:102; Mk 8:38
22. Job 6:10 : S Lev 11:44; S 2Ki 19:22; S Isa 31:1
23. Job 6:11 : S ver 3
24. Job 6:12 : Job 26:2
25. Job 6:13 : Job 26:2
26. Job 6:14 : Job 12:4; 17:2, 6; 19:19, 21; 21:3; 30:1, 10; Ps 38:11; 69:20; 1Jn 3:17
27. Job 6:14 : S Ge 17:1
28. Job 6:15 : Job 13:4; 16:2; 21:34; Ps 22:1; 38:11; Jer 15:18
29. Job 6:16 : Ps 147:18
30. Job 6:17 : Job 24:19
31. Job 6:19 : S Ge 25:15
32. Job 6:19 : S Ge 10:7, 28
33. Job 6:20 : Jer 14:3; Joel 1:11
34. Job 6:21 : Ps 38:11
35. Job 6:22 : S Nu 35:31; Job 33:24; Ps 49:7
36. Job 6:22 : Jer 15:10
37. Job 6:23 : S 2Ki 19:19
38. Job 6:24 : S Job 2:10; 33:33; Ps 39:1; 141:3; Pr 10:19; 11:12; 17:27; Ecc 5:2
39. Job 6:24 : Job 19:4
40. Job 6:25 : Ecc 12:11; Isa 22:23
41. Job 6:26 : S ver 3; S Ge 41:6; Job 8:2; 15:3; 16:3; Jer 5:13
42. Job 6:27 : Eze 24:6; Joel 3:3; Ob 1:11; Na 3:10
43. Job 6:27 : S Ex 22:22, 24; Job 31:17, 21; Isa 10:2
44. Job 6:28 : Job 9:15; 24:25; 27:4; 32:10; 33:1, 3; 34:6; 36:3, 4
45. Job 6:29 : Job 19:6; 27:2; 40:8; Isa 40:27
46. Job 6:29 : S Job 2:3
47. Job 6:29 : Job 9:21; 10:7; 11:2; 12:4; 23:7, 10; 33:9, 32; 34:5, 36; 35:2; 42:6; Ps 66:10; Zec 13:9
48. Job 6:30 : Job 27:4
49. Job 6:30 : Job 12:11

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

### More on the NIV

- Unleash God's Word!

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Journal the Word Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Reflect, Take Notes, or Create Art Next to Your Favorite Verses
Retail: $39.99
Our Price: $27.99
Save: $12.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Artisan Collection Bible, Gilded Edges, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV Application Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: Bringing the Ancient Message of the Bible into Your World
Retail: $54.99
Our Price: $35.00
Save: $19.99 (36%)
Buy Now
View more titles