Job 9
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1Then Job replied:1Then Job spoke again:
2"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?2“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?
3Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.3If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?
4His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?4For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?
5He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.5“Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.6He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble.
7He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of 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 is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.9He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.
10He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.10He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.
11When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.11“Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go.
12If he snatches away, who can stop 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?’
13God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.13And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet.
14"How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?14“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him?
15Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.15Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.
16Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.16And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me.
17He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.17For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause.
18He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.18He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.
19If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge 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 innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.20Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.
21"Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.21“I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me— I despise my life.
22It is all the same; that is why 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 a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.23When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent.
24When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not 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?
25"My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.25“My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.
26They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.26It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,'27If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful,
28I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.28I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.
29Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?29Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what’s the use of trying?
30Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder,30Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye,
31you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.31you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.
32"He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.32“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
33If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together,33If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.
34someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.34The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.35Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.
New International Version (NIV)

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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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