Job 6

Job 6:3

Therefore my words are swallowed up.

Such is the greatness of my affliction, that it bereaves me of all words, whereby I should endeavour to express it.

Job 6:4

For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirits.

The grievous pains that I feel are so many poisoned arrows, shot into my flesh by the Almighty Hand of God; which have diffused their venom into all the parts of my body and soul, and have even spent and wasted my spirits, with the woeful sense of them.

Job 6:5

Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? &c.

Can ye imagine that I would cry out so bitterly, if I did not feel a just cause of my complaint? Ye see the very dumb creatures do not make their moan, but when they find a sense of their want.

Job 6:6

Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

Yet this is no small addition to my sorrow, that ye speak unto me words that have no savour of any comfort, but rather tend towards my further dejection: surely, there is no more relish in your speeches, than in the white of an egg without salt.

Job 6:7

The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.

And yet these are they, that I am forced to feed upon, for the present, though they be such as my soul hath too much cause to abhor.

Job 6:10

Let him not spare: for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.

Let him do me this favour, to take away my life: let him not spare me to my further vexation; for I have been faithful to him, and have not concealed the words of his mouth, but have freely declared them to the world.

Job 6:13

Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven away from me?

However ye labour to dishearten me, yet have not I the testimony of a good conscience to bear me up? Is there not true spiritual wisdom yet remaining in me, to know both my God and myself?

Job 6:15

My brethren have dealt deceitfully with me, as a brook, &c.

My kinsmen, that came to comfort me, are like a deceitful current of land-waters in winter: VOL. III. L

Job 6:16

Which are blackish by reason of the ice, &c.

Which, in the cold season, seem to be strongly covered with a firm ice;

Job 6:17

What time they wax warm, they vanish.

But when the heat of the sun hath risen upon them, and warmer seasons come in, they vanish away, as if they had never been.

Job 6:19

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

The troops of the Ishmaelitish merchants, that trade unto Tema, made account to refresh themselves with those streams in that dry wilderness; and so did the merchants that traffic to Sheba.

Job 6:20

They were confounded.

And now find themselves miserably disappointed.

Job 6:21

For now ye are nothing.

Right such are ye unto me; for now, howsoever ye formerly seemed, ye are as nothing; having utterly deceived my hopes of kindness and mercy from you.

Job 6:22

Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give, &c.?

Was I ever beholden to any of you for a favour? Did I ever crave of any of you, either gift or rescue?

Job 6:26

Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?

Do you imagine that I speak nothing but light and idle words, and reprove me thereafter? Or do ye account the passionate complaints of a man, thus desperately miserable, to be no other than wind?

Job 6:29

Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.

Bethink yourselves well of the cruel wrong ye have offered me; and go not on to charge me thus unjustly: my righteousness and integrity is, and shall be apparent, in this whole carriage of the matter.