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