6:11 What is my strength, that I should wait? 1
and what is my end, 2
that I should prolong my life?
6:12 Is my strength like that of stones? 3
or is my flesh made of bronze?
6:13 Is 4 not my power to help myself nothing,
and has not every resource 5 been driven from me?
6:14 “To the one in despair, kindness 6 should come from his friend 7
even if 8 he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
6:15 My brothers 9 have been as treacherous 10 as a seasonal stream, 11
and as the riverbeds of the intermittent streams 12
that flow away. 13
6:16 They 14 are dark 15 because of ice;
snow is piled 16 up over them. 17
6:17 When they are scorched, 18 they dry up,
when it is hot, they vanish 19 from their place.
6:18 Caravans 20 turn aside from their routes;
they go 21 into the wasteland 22 and perish. 23
6:19 The caravans of Tema 24 looked intently 25 for these streams; 26
the traveling merchants 27 of Sheba hoped for them.
6:20 They were distressed, 28
because each one had been 29 so confident;
they arrived there, 30 but were disappointed.
6:21 For now 31 you have become like these streams that are no help; 32
you see a terror, 33 and are afraid.
6:22 “Have I 34 ever said, 35 ‘Give me something,
and from your fortune 36 make gifts 37 in my favor’?
6:23 Or ‘Deliver me 38 from the enemy’s power, 39
and from the hand of tyrants 40 ransom 41 me’?
6:24 “Teach 42 me and I, for my part, 43 will be silent;
explain to me 44 how I have been mistaken. 45
6:25 How painful 46 are honest words!
But 47 what does your reproof 48 prove? 49
6:26 Do you intend to criticize mere words,
and treat 50 the words of a despairing man as wind?
6:27 Yes, you would gamble 51 for the fatherless,
and auction off 52 your friend.
6:28 “Now then, be good enough to look 53 at me; 54
and I will not 55 lie to your face!
6:29 Relent, 56 let there be no falsehood; 57
reconsider, 58 for my righteousness is intact! 59
6:30 Is there any falsehood 60 on my lips?
Can my mouth 61 not discern evil things? 62