HOW PAINFUL ARE HONEST WORDS!

Passage: Job 6:1-30

Key verse: 25

NIV

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?

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Footnotes
  1. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
  2. Job 6:29 Or my righteousness still stands
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just

6 Then Job answered and said:

2 “Oh that my vexation were weighed,
    and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For then it would be heavier than (A)the sand of the sea;
    therefore my words have been rash.
4 For (B)the arrows of the Almighty are in me;
    my spirit drinks their poison;
    the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass,
    or the ox low over his fodder?
6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt,
    or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?[a]
7 My appetite refuses to touch them;
    they are as food that is loathsome to me.[b]

8 “Oh that I might have my request,
    and that God would fulfill my hope,
9 that it would (C)please God to crush me,
    that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10 This would be my comfort;
    I would even exult[c] in pain (D)unsparing,
    for I have not denied the words of (E)the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait?
    And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
13 Have I any help in me,
    when resource is driven from me?

14 “He who (F)withholds[d] kindness from a (G)friend
    forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My (H)brothers are (I)treacherous as a torrent-bed,
    as torrential (J)streams that pass away,
16 which are dark with ice,
    and where the snow hides itself.
17 When they melt, they disappear;
    when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The caravans turn aside from their course;
    they go up into (K)the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of (L)Tema look,
    the travelers of (M)Sheba hope.
20 They are (N)ashamed because they were confident;
    they come there and are (O)disappointed.
21 For you have now become nothing;
    you see my calamity and are afraid.
22 Have I said, ‘Make me a gift’?
    Or, ‘From your wealth offer a bribe for me’?
23 Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary's hand’?
    Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of (P)the ruthless’?

24 “Teach me, and I will be silent;
    make me understand how I have gone astray.
25 How forceful are upright words!
    But what does reproof from you reprove?
26 Do you think that you can reprove words,
    when the speech of a despairing man is (Q)wind?
27 You would even (R)cast lots over the fatherless,
    and bargain over your friend.

28 “But now, be pleased to look at me,
    for I will not lie to your face.
29 (S)Please turn; let no injustice be done.
    Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
30 Is there any injustice on my tongue?
    Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

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Footnotes
  1. Job 6:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  2. Job 6:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Job 6:10 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
  4. Job 6:14 Syriac, Vulgate (compare Targum); the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Job begins his reply to Eliphaz’s advice simply by expressing his anguish and misery (1-2). Eliphaz’s words have not touched the depths of his suffering. He compares Eliphaz’s advice to tasteless food (6-7). Job still wishes for death, because he cannot find any hope for himself (8-9, 11). Yet, whatever happens, he will not deny God (1

). When we trust God as our father, we can pour out our hearts to him honestly, knowing he will not take it the wrong way.

In verses 14-23, Job laments the unhelpfulness of his friend’s words. He hoped their words would be like water to refresh his spirit, but only found a dry stream (15-2

). Job pinpoints the real motive behind Eliphaz’s advice: when he sees Job’s terrible suffering, he is afraid for himself (21). Job knows that honest words are good even if they are painful, but his friend’s arguments are empty (25). Words with real power to help come from the heart, not just from an arguing spirit. He asks them to acknowledge that he is not being punished because of his sins (29-3

).

Prayer: Father, thank you that I can pour out my heart to you when I am in anguish. Help my words be like cool water to strengthen my friends.

One Word: Give kind words like cool water.