Job 9
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1This was Job's response:1Then Job spoke again:
2"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with 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 were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even 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?
4He is wise in heart and strong in will— who can be stubborn against him and succeed?4For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?
5"He removes mountains without their knowledge, overthrowing them in his anger.5“Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth from its orbit, so that its foundations shudder.6He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble.
7He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars.7If he commands it, the sun won’t rise and the stars won’t shine.
8He alone spreads out the heavens, he walks on the waves of the sea.8He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea.
9He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the southern constellations.9He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.
10He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.10He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.
11"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him.11“Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go.
12Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'12If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’
13"God doesn't restrain his anger. Rahab's assistants are humiliated under him.13And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet.
14So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him?14“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him?
15Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.15Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.
16"Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me, I wouldn't even believe that he was listening to what I have to say. 16And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me.
17For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason.17For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause.
18He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness.18He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.
19"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue 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?
20Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty.20Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.
21"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life.21“I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me— I despise my life.
22I say it's all the same— he destroys both the blameless and the guilty. 22Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23If a calamity causes sudden death, he'll mock at the despair of the innocent.23When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent.
24A land is given into the hands of a wicked person; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not God, 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?
25"My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.25“My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.
26They pass by like a ship made of reeds, 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 were to say, 'Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,27If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful,
28then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me.28I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.
29I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility?29Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what’s the use of trying?
30"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,30Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye,
31you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me.31you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.
32He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another.32“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
33There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us,33If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.
34removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.34The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself."35Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
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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