Job's Bitter Complaint

Job 6

Job replies that his grief outweighs the sand of the sea, for the Lord's arrows have pierced him, and he no longer feels shame in longing for death. He rebukes his friends for failing him like a brook that vanishes in the heat, insisting there is no wrongdoing in his words and asking them to judge him fairly.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTO this, Job in reply said:

BrentonBut Job answered and said,

GreekὙπολαβὼν δὲ Ἰὼβ, λέγει,

JPSThen Job answered and said:

ThomsonO that some person would weigh my passion, and poise in a balance against it my calamities.

BrentonOh that one would indeed weigh the wrath that is upon me, and take up my griefs in a balance together!

GreekΕἰ γάρ τις ἱστῶν στήσαι μου τὴν ὀργὴν, τὰς δὲ ὀδύνας μου ἄραι ἐν ζυγῷ ὁμοθυμαδὸν,

JPS—

ThomsonBut these would outweigh the sand of the sea, though you seem to think my words too vehement;

BrentonAnd verily they would be heavier than the sand by the seashore: but, as it seems, my words are vain.

Greekκαὶ δὴ ἄμμου παραλίας βαρυτέρα ἔσται· ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔοικε τὰ ῥήματά μου ἐστὶ φαῦλα.

JPSFor now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas; therefore are my words broken.

Thomsonfor the arrows of the Lord are in my body, the fury of which drinketh up my blood. When I attempt to speak they pierce me.

BrentonFor the arrows of the Lord are in my body, whose violence drinks up my blood: whenever I am going to speak, they pierce me.

GreekΒέλη γὰρ Κυρίου ἐν τῷ σώματί μου ἐστὶν, ὧν ὁ θυμὸς αὐτῶν ἐκπίνει μου τὸ αἷμα· ὅταν ἄρξωμαι λαλεῖν, κεντοῦσί με.

JPS—

ThomsonWhat! will a wild ass bray without cause? Will it do so, except when in search of food? Or will an ox low, having fodder in his stall?

BrentonWhat then? will the wild ass bray for nothing, if he is not seeking food? or again, will the ox low at the manger, when he has fodder?

GreekΤί γάρ; μὴ διακενῆς κεκράξεται ὄνος ἄγριος, ἀλλʼ ἢ τὰ σῖτα ζητῶν; εἰ δὲ καὶ ῥήξει φωνὴν βοῦς ἐπὶ φάτνης ἔχων τὰ βρώματα;

JPSDoth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?

ThomsonCan bread be eaten without salt, or is there any relish in vain words?

BrentonShall bread be eaten without salt? or again, is there taste in empty words?

GreekΕἰ βρωθήσεται ἄρτος ἄνευ ἁλός; εἰ δὲ καὶ ἔστι γεῦμα ἐν ῥήμασι κενοῖς;

JPSCan that which hath no savour be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the juice of mallows?

ThomsonFor my temper cannot be calm, while my meat is horrible as the smell of a lion.

BrentonFor my wrath cannot cease; for I perceive my food as the smell of a lion to be loathsome.

GreekΟὐ δύναται γὰρ παύσασθαί μου ἡ ὀργή· βρόμον γὰρ ὁρῶ τὰ σῖτά μου ὥσπερ ὀσμὴν λέοντος.

JPS—

ThomsonO that He would grant!—that my request might be complied with!—that the Lord would grant me what I long for!

BrentonFor oh that he would grant my desire, and my petition might come, and the Lord would grant my hope!

GreekΕἰ γὰρ δώῃ καὶ ἔλθοι μου ἡ αἴτησις, καὶ τὴν ἐλπίδα μου δώῃ ὁ Κύριος.

JPSOh that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! .

ThomsonLet the Lord, having begun, wound me, but not utterly destroy me.

BrentonLet the Lord begin and wound me, but let him not utterly destroy me.

GreekἈρξάμενος ὁ Κύριος τρωσάτω με, εἰς τέλος δὲ μή με ἀνελέτω.

JPS—

ThomsonLet but the grave be my city, having got on its walls I will not be slack to enter, for I have not disputed the holy commands of my God.

BrentonLet the grave be my city, upon the walls of which I have leaped: I will not shrink from it; for I have not denied the holy words of my God.

GreekΕἴη δέ μου πόλις τάφος, ἐφʼ ἧς ἐπὶ τειχέων ἡλλόμην, ἐπʼ αὐτῆς οὐ φείσομαι· οὐ γὰρ ἐψευσάμην ῥήματα ἅγια Θεοῦ μου.

JPSThen should I yet have comfort; yea, I would exult in pain, though He spare not; For I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

ThomsonFor what is my strength that I should bear up! what my time, that my life is prolonged?

BrentonFor what is my strength, that I continue? what is my time, that my soul endures?

GreekΤίς γάρ μου ἡ ἰσχύς, ὅτι ὑπομένω; τίς μου ὁ χρόνος, ὅτι ἀνέχεταί μου ἡ ψυχή;

JPSWhat is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?

ThomsonIs my strength the strength of stones, or is this flesh of mine made of brass?

BrentonIs my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?

GreekΜὴ ἰσχὺς λίθων ἡ ἰσχύς μου; ἢ αἱ σάρκες μου εἰσὶ χάλκεαι;

JPSIs my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?

ThomsonOr have I not confided in Him? But help is far from me.

BrentonOr have I not trusted in him? but help is far from me.

GreekἪ οὐκ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ ἐπεποίθειν; βοήθεια δὲ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ ἄπεστιν.

JPSIs it that I have no help in me, and that sound wisdom is driven quite from me?

ThomsonMercy hath bidden me adieu. When the superintending care of the Lord overlooked me,

BrentonMercy has rejected me; and the visitation of the Lord has disregarded me.

GreekἈπείπατό με ἔλεος, ἐπισκοπὴ δὲ Κυρίου ὑπερεῖδέ με.

JPS—

Thomsonmy nearest friends did not regard me: like a failing brook, or like a wave of the sea, they passed me by.

BrentonMy nearest relations have not regarded me; they have passed me by like a failing brook, or like a wave.

GreekΟὐ προσεῖδόν με οἱ ἐγγύτατοί μου, ὥσπερ χειμάῤῥους ἐκλείπων, ἢ ὥσπερ κῦμα παρῆλθόν με

JPS—

ThomsonThey who had assiduously paid me court, now made me a slight visit, like snow or hoar frost,

BrentonThey who used to reverence me, now have come against me like snow or congealed ice.

GreekΟἵτινές με διευλαβοῦντο, νῦν ἐπιπεπτώκασί μοι ὥσπερ χιὼν ἢ κρύσταλλος πεπηγώς·

JPS—

Thomsonwhich melting at the approach of heat, the place where it was is not known.

BrentonWhen it has melted at the approach of heat, it is not known what it was.

GreekΚαθὼς τακεῖσα θέρμης γενομένης, οὐκ ἐπεγνώσθη ὅπερ ἦν,

JPS—

ThomsonThus was I forsaken by all, and being undone, I became an outcast.

BrentonThus I also have been deserted of all; and I am ruined, and become an outcast.

Greekοὕτω κᾀγὼ κατελείφηθν ὑπὸ πάντων, ἀπωλόμην δὲ καὶ ἔξοικος ἐγενόμην.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonBehold the ways of the Thæmanites, ye that mark the paths of the Sabæans.

GreekἼδετε ὁδοὺς Θαιμανῶν, ἀτραποὺς, Σαβῶν οἱ διορῶντες.

JPS—

Thomsonand they who trust in cities and wealth must blush. But now when you have come to me, it is without compassion—

BrentonThey too that trust in cities and riches shall come to shame.

GreekΚαὶ αἰσχύνην ὀφειλήσουσιν, οἱ ἐπὶ πόλεσι καὶ χρήμασι πεποιθότες.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonBut ye also have come to me without pity; so that beholding my wound ye are afraid.

GreekἈτὰρ δὲ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπέβητέ μοι ἀνελεημόνως, ὥστε ἰδόντες τὸ ἐμὸν τραῦμα φοβήθητε.

JPSFor now ye are become His; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.

ThomsonHave I asked anything of you, or do I crave any help from you?—

BrentonWhat? have I made any demand of you? or do I ask for strength from you,

GreekΤί γάρ; μήτι ὑμᾶς ἢτησα, ἢ τῆς παρʼ ὑμῶν ἰσχύος ἐπιδέομαι,

JPS—

Thomsonto save me from mine enemies—or deliver me out of the hand of the mighty?

Brentonto deliver me from enemies, or to rescue me from the hand of the mighty ones?

Greekὥστε σῶσαί με ἑξ ἐχθρῶν, ἢ ἐκ χειρὸς δυναστῶν ῥύσασθαί με;

JPSor: ‘Deliver me from the adversary’s hand’? Or: ‘Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors’?

ThomsonTeach me and I will hold my tongue. If I have erred, tell me plainly.

BrentonTeach ye me, and I will be silent: if in anything I have erred, tell me.

GreekΔιδάξατέ με, ἐγὼ δὲ κωφεύσω· εἴ τι πεπλάνημαι, φράσατέ μοι.

JPSTeach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.

ThomsonBut my words, it seems, are devoid of truth, because I do not beg assistance from you.

BrentonBut as it seems, the words of a true man are vain, because I do not ask strength of you.

GreekἈλλʼ ὡς ἔοικε φαῦλα ἀληθινοῦ ῥήματα, οὐ γὰρ παρʼ ὑμῶν ἰσχὺν αἰτοῦμαι.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonNeither will your reproof cause me to cease my words, for neither will I endure the sound of your speech.

GreekΟὐδὲ ἔλεγχος ὑμῶν ῥήμασί με παύσει, οὐδὲ γὰρ ὑμῶν φθέγμα ῥήματος ἀνέξομαι.

JPS—

Thomsonbecause, you not only fall upon the orphan, but also insult your friend.

BrentonEven because ye attack the fatherless, and insult your friend.

GreekΠλὴν ὅτι ἐπʼ ὀρφανῷ ἐπιπίπτετε, ἐνάλλεσθε δὲ ἐπὶ φίλῳ ὑμῶν.

JPSYea, ye would cast lots upon the fatherless, And dig a pit for your friend.

ThomsonBut now, having looked you in the face, I will not lie.

BrentonBut now, having looked upon your countenances, I will not lie.

GreekΝυνὶ δὲ εἰσβλέψας εἰς πρόσωπα ὑμῶν, οὐ ψεύσομαι.

JPSNow therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.

ThomsonSit down I pray you, and let there be no more reproaches. Indeed, you again meet a righteous man.

BrentonSit down now, and let there not be unrighteousness; and unite again with the just.

GreekΚαθίσατε δὴ καὶ μὴ εἴη ἄδικον, καὶ πάλιν τῷ δικαίῳ συνέρχεσθε.

JPSReturn, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.

Thomson—

BrentonFor there is no injustice in my tongue; and does not my throat meditate understanding?

GreekΟὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐν γλώσσῃ μουἄδικον, ἢ ὁ λάρυγξ μου οὐχὶ σύνεσιν μελετᾷ.

JPSIs there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern crafty devices?