Job 9
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Holman Christian Standard BibleNew Living Translation
1Then Job answered: 1Then Job spoke again:
2Yes, I know what you've said is true, but how can a person be justified before God? 2“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?
3If one wanted to take Him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times. 3If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?
4God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed Him and come out unharmed? 4For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?
5He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in His anger. 5“Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth from its place so that its pillars tremble. 6He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble.
7He commands the sun not to shine and seals off the stars. 7If he commands it, the sun won’t rise and the stars won’t shine.
8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. 8He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea.
9He makes the stars: the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky. 9He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.
10He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. 10He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.
11If He passes by me, I wouldn't see Him; if He goes right by, I wouldn't recognize Him. 11“Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go.
12If He snatches something, who can stop Him? Who can ask Him, "What are You doing?" 12If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’
13God does not hold back His anger; Rahab's assistants cringe in fear beneath Him! 13And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet.
14How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? 14“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him?
15Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. 15Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.
16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would pay attention to what I said. 16And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me.
17He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause. 17For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause.
18He doesn't let me catch my breath but soaks me with bitter experiences. 18He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.
19If it is a matter of strength, look, He is the Mighty One! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him? 19If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?
20Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty. 20Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.
21Though I am blameless, I no longer care about myself; I renounce my life. 21“I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me— I despise my life.
22It is all the same. Therefore I say, "He destroys both the blameless and the wicked." 22Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23When disaster brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent. 23When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent.
24The earth is handed over to the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it isn't He, then who is it? 24The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is?
25My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good. 25“My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.
26They sweep by like boats made of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. 26It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27If I said, "I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile," 27If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful,
28I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know You will not acquit me. 28I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.
29Since I will be found guilty, why should I labor in vain? 29Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what’s the use of trying?
30If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, 30Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye,
31then You dip me in a pit of mud, and my own clothes despise me! 31you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.
32For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court. 32“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
33There is no one to judge between us, to lay his hand on both of us. 33If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.
34Let Him take His rod away from me so His terror will no longer frighten me. 34The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35Then I would speak and not fear Him. But that is not the case; I am on my own. 35Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Job 8
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