Job 6:1-13

Job in his reply deals first of all with the charge of impatience. He catches up the word used by Eliphaz (Job 5:2), and declares that his impatience does but balance his calamity (Job 6:1 f.). The dreadfulness of the latter is that it is from God Himself (Job 6:4). The image is that of poisoned arrows, whose points have penetrated (within me). Job's spirit drinks their poison, so that he cannot help roaring. No creature complains without reason, no more does he (Job 6:5). What is loathsome and unbearable is thrust upon him (Job 6:6 f.) So keenly does he feel the truth of what he is saying that he forgets his defence, and once more cries passionately for death (Job 6:8), Patience, he says, is impossible; he is not stone or brass (Job 6:11 f.). All resource is at an end with him.