Job 9
1 And Job answered and said,
Job replied,
2 Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
“Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
3 If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
If you wanted to argue with God, God could ask a thousand questions that no-one could answer.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
God is so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
5 Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
God moves the mountains suddenly; he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
He shakes the earth, making its foundations quake.
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
12 Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
God does not restrain his anger; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
14 How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
15 Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
18 He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
19 Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
If it's a question of strength, then God is the strongest. If it's a question of justice, then who will set a time for my case?
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
Even though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
21 Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
I am innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
When disaster strikes suddenly he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?
The earth has been handed over to the wicked; he blinds the eyes of the judges—if it's not him who does this, then who is it?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
26 They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
They pass by like fast sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
If I said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
you would toss me into a slime pit so that even my own clothes would hate me!
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.
For God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
35 [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
