Job 9:15
New International Version
Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.

New Living Translation
Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.

English Standard Version
Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.

Berean Standard Bible
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

King James Bible
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

New King James Version
For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge.

New American Standard Bible
“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my Judge.

NASB 1995
“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

NASB 1977
“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

Legacy Standard Bible
For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to plead for the grace of my judge.

Amplified Bible
“For though I were righteous, I could not answer. I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

Christian Standard Bible
Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

American Standard Version
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

Contemporary English Version
Even though I am innocent, I can only beg for mercy.

English Revised Version
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to mine adversary.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even if I were right, I could not answer [him]. I would have to plead for mercy from my judge.

Good News Translation
Though I am innocent, all I can do is beg for mercy from God my judge.

International Standard Version
Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.

Majority Standard Bible
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

NET Bible
Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.

New Heart English Bible
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn't answer him. I would make petition to my judge.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

World English Bible
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, "" For my judgment I make supplication.

Young's Literal Translation
Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.

Smith's Literal Translation
Whom, if I was just, I shall not answer; I will make supplication to my judge.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.

New American Bible
Even though I were right, I could not answer, but should rather beg for what was due me.

New Revised Standard Version
Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If I am not justified I would not resist, but I would make supplication to my judge.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If I am not justified, I will not be heard, and to my Judge I shall make supplication
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For though I be righteous, he will not hearken to me: I will intreat his judgment.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: How Can I Argue with God?
14How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? 15For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. 16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.…

Cross References
Romans 3:19-20
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. / Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.

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

Luke 18:13-14
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ / I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Isaiah 64:6
Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Romans 3:23-24
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, / and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1 John 1:8-9
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Micah 7:9
Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His righteousness.

Romans 7:18-19
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. / For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.

1 Corinthians 4:4
My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.

Isaiah 6:5
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

Philippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.

Psalm 130:3-4
If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? / But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Romans 8:33-34
Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. / Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.

James 2:10
Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.


Treasury of Scripture

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

though

Job 10:15
If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

1 Corinthians 4:4
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

I would

Job 5:8
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

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

Job 10:2
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

my judge

Job 23:7
There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

1 Peter 2:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

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Job 9
1. Job acknowledges God's justice
22. Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions














For even if I were right
This phrase reflects Job's deep sense of humility and recognition of the vast chasm between human righteousness and divine perfection. The Hebrew word for "right" here is "צָדַק" (tsadaq), which means to be just or righteous. Job acknowledges that even if he were justified in his own eyes, it would not suffice before the absolute holiness of God. This highlights the biblical theme that human righteousness is insufficient when compared to God's standards, as echoed in Isaiah 64:6, where human righteousness is likened to "filthy rags."

I could not answer
Job admits his inability to respond adequately to God. The Hebrew root "ענה" (anah) means to answer or respond. This reflects the overwhelming nature of God's wisdom and power, which is beyond human comprehension. Job's acknowledgment here is a precursor to the New Testament understanding that no one can stand justified before God by their own merit, as seen in Romans 3:20, where it states that no one will be declared righteous by the works of the law.

I could only beg
The act of begging here is a posture of humility and desperation. The Hebrew word "חנן" (chanan) means to implore or seek favor. Job's use of this term indicates his understanding that his only recourse is to appeal to God's grace and mercy. This is a profound recognition of the need for divine grace, a theme that runs throughout Scripture and is fulfilled in the New Testament through the grace offered by Jesus Christ.

my Judge
The term "Judge" in Hebrew is "שׁוֹפֵט" (shofet), which refers to one who decides or governs. Job recognizes God as the ultimate arbiter of justice, the one who has the authority to judge all creation. This acknowledgment of God as Judge is consistent with the biblical portrayal of God as the righteous judge of all the earth, as seen in Genesis 18:25. It underscores the belief in God's sovereign rule and perfect justice.

for mercy
The plea for mercy is central to Job's appeal. The Hebrew word "רַחֲמִים" (rachamim) signifies compassion or pity. Job's request for mercy is an appeal to God's compassionate nature, which is a recurring theme in the Bible. This plea is a recognition that, despite human failings, God's mercy is abundant and available to those who seek it. The concept of divine mercy is foundational to the Christian faith, culminating in the mercy shown through Christ's sacrifice, as described in Ephesians 2:4-5, where God is rich in mercy and has made us alive with Christ.

(15) Though I were righteous.--He now puts the alternative case: that he were actually righteous; yet even then supplication, and not assertion, would best become him.

Verse 15. - Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer. Even perfect righteousness, so far as possible in a creature, would not enable a non to stand up in controversy with him who "charges his angels with folly" (Job 4:18); and, moreover, to such righteousness Job does not pretend (see Job 7:20, 21). But I would make supplication to my Judge; rather, to mine adversary (see the Revised Version). Prayer is the only rightful attitude of even the best man before his Maker - prayer for mercy, prayer for pardon prayer for grace, prayer for advance in holiness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

even if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I were right,
צָ֭דַקְתִּי (ṣā·ḏaq·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous

I could not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

answer.
אֶעֱנֶ֑ה (’e·‘ĕ·neh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

I could only beg my Judge
לִ֝מְשֹׁפְטִ֗י (lim·šō·p̄ə·ṭî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

for mercy.
אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃ (’eṯ·ḥan·nān)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore


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OT Poetry: Job 9:15 Though I were righteous yet I wouldn't (Jb)
Job 9:14
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