Job 10:2
New International Version
I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges you have against me.

New Living Translation
I will say to God, ‘Don’t simply condemn me— tell me the charge you are bringing against me.

English Standard Version
I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.

Berean Standard Bible
I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

King James Bible
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

New King James Version
I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me.

New American Standard Bible
“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Let me know why You contend with me.

NASB 1995
“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Let me know why You contend with me.

NASB 1977
“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Let me know why Thou dost contend with me.

Legacy Standard Bible
I will say to God, ‘Do not account me as wicked; Let me know why You contend with me.

Amplified Bible
“I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me [and declare me guilty]! Show me why You contend and argue and struggle with me.

Christian Standard Bible
I will say to God, “Do not declare me guilty! Let me know why you prosecute me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will say to God: “Do not declare me guilty! Let me know why You prosecute me.

American Standard Version
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Contemporary English Version
Don't just condemn me! Point out my sin.

English Revised Version
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will say to God, 'Don't condemn me. Let me know why you are quarreling with me.

Good News Translation
Don't condemn me, God. Tell me! What is the charge against me?

International Standard Version
I'll say to God, 'Don't condemn me! Let me know why you are fighting me.

Majority Standard Bible
I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.

NET Bible
I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; tell me why you are contending with me.'

New Heart English Bible
I will tell God, 'Do not condemn me. Show me why you contend with me.

Webster's Bible Translation
I will say to God, Do not condemn me; show me why thou contendest with me.

World English Bible
I will tell God, ‘Do not condemn me. Show me why you contend with me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I say to God, Do not condemn me, "" Let me know why You strive [with] me.

Young's Literal Translation
I say unto God, 'Do not condemn me, Let me know why Thou dost strive with me.

Smith's Literal Translation
Saying to God, Thou wilt not condemn me; make known to me for what thou wilt contend with me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I will say to God: Do not condemn me: tell me why thou judgest me so.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I will say to God: Do not be willing to condemn me. Reveal to me why you judge me this way.

New American Bible
I will say to God: Do not put me in the wrong! Let me know why you oppose me.

New Revised Standard Version
I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I will say to God. Do not condemn me; show me why thou dost contend with me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall say to God: “Do not condemn me; teach me about what it is for which you judge me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I will say unto God: Do not condemn me; Make me know wherefore Thou contendest with me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will say to the Lord, Do not teach me to be impious; and wherefore hast thou thus judged me?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job's Plea to God
1“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me. 3Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?…

Cross References
Psalm 143:2
Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Jeremiah 12:1
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?

Romans 9:20
But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?”

Isaiah 45:9
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?

Lamentations 3:39
Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins?

Romans 11:33-34
O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! / “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”

Job 13:3
Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.

Job 23:3-5
If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. / I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. / I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.

Job 31:35
(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.

Job 9:14-15
How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? / For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

Job 13:22-23
Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply. / How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.

Job 16:21
Oh, that a man might plead with God as he pleads with his neighbor!

Job 19:7
Though I cry out, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.

Job 27:2
“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—


Treasury of Scripture

I will say to God, Do not condemn me; show me why you contend with me.

Do not

Psalm 6:1-4
To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure…

Psalm 25:7
Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

Psalm 38:1-8
A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure…

shew me

Job 8:5,6
If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; …

Job 34:31,32
Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: …

Psalm 139:23,24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: …

Jump to Previous
Charges Clear Condemn Contend Contendest Shew Show Sinner Wherefore
Jump to Next
Charges Clear Condemn Contend Contendest Shew Show Sinner Wherefore
Job 10
1. Job, taking liberty of complaint, expostulates with God about his afflictions
18. He complains of life, and craves a little ease before death














I will say to God
This phrase reflects Job's direct and personal approach to God, indicative of a deep, albeit troubled, relationship. The Hebrew root for "say" (אָמַר, 'amar) implies not just speaking but a declaration or proclamation. Job's willingness to speak directly to God underscores his belief in a personal God who is approachable, even in times of distress. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God as a relational being who desires communication with His creation.

Do not condemn me!
The plea here is for understanding and mercy. The Hebrew word for "condemn" (רָשַׁע, rasha) often implies a legal judgment of guilt. Job feels unjustly accused and seeks vindication. This reflects the human condition of seeking justice and understanding in suffering. In the broader biblical narrative, it echoes the cry for divine justice and the hope for redemption, themes central to the Christian faith.

Let me know
This phrase indicates Job's desire for clarity and understanding. The Hebrew root (יָדַע, yada) means to know deeply or intimately. Job's request is not just for information but for a profound understanding of his situation. This reflects the biblical theme of seeking wisdom and understanding from God, who is the source of all truth.

why You prosecute me
The word "prosecute" (רִיב, rib) in Hebrew can mean to contend or to bring a case against someone. Job feels as though he is on trial before God. This legal imagery is significant, as it portrays God as a judge, a common biblical motif. Job's struggle is not just with his suffering but with understanding the divine justice behind it. This reflects the broader theological question of theodicy—why a just God allows suffering—which is a central theme in the Book of Job and throughout Scripture.

(2) I will say unto God . . .--This is a model of prayer for all, combining the prayer of the publican (Luke 18:13), and a prayer for that light for which we long so earnestly in times of affliction and darkness.

Verse 2. - I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; literally, do not pronounce me wicked My friends, as they call themselves, have, one and all, condemned me: do not thou also condemn me. A touching appeal! Show me wherefore thou contendest with me. One of Job's principal trials is the perplexity into which his unexampled sufferings have thrown him. He cannot understand why he has been singled out for such tremendous punishment, when he is not conscious to himself of any impiety or other heinous sin against God. So now, when he has resolved to vent all the bitterness of his soul, he ventures to ask the question - Why is he so tried? What has he done to make God his enemy? Wherefore does God fight against him continually?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will say
אֹמַ֣ר (’ō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

God:
אֱ֭לוֹהַּ (’ĕ·lō·w·ah)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 433: God -- a deity, the Deity

‘Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

condemn me!
תַּרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִי (tar·šî·‘ê·nî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7561: To be, wrong, to disturb, violate

Let me know
הֽ֝וֹדִיעֵ֗נִי (hō·w·ḏî·‘ê·nî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

why
עַ֣ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

You prosecute me.’
תְּרִיבֵֽנִי׃ (tə·rî·ḇê·nî)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend


Links
Job 10:2 NIV
Job 10:2 NLT
Job 10:2 ESV
Job 10:2 NASB
Job 10:2 KJV

Job 10:2 BibleApps.com
Job 10:2 Biblia Paralela
Job 10:2 Chinese Bible
Job 10:2 French Bible
Job 10:2 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Job 10:2 I will tell God 'Do not condemn (Jb)
Job 10:1
Top of Page
Top of Page