Job 9
1 And Job made answer and said,
Job replied,
2 Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?
“Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
3 If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.
If you wanted to argue with God, God could ask a thousand questions that no-one could answer.
4 He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?
God is so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
5 It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
God moves the mountains suddenly; he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking:
He shakes the earth, making its foundations quake.
7 Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.
He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
8 By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea:
He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
10 Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.
He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
11 See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him.
But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
12 If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?
If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
God does not restrain his anger; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
14 How much less may I give an answer to him, using the right words in argument with him?
So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
15 Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.
Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
16 If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.
Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
17 For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
18 He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.
He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
19 If it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day?
If it's a question of strength, then God is the strongest. If it's a question of justice, then who will set a time for my case?
20 Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner.
Even though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
21 I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
I am innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
22 It is all the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together.
That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
23 If death comes suddenly through disease, he makes sport of the fate of those who have done no wrong.
When disaster strikes suddenly he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done it?
The earth has been handed over to the wicked; he blinds the eyes of the judges—if it's not him who does this, then who is it?
25 My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.
The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
26 They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food.
They pass by like fast sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright;
If I said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
28 I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes.
I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
29 You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
30 If I am washed with snow water, and make my hands clean with soap;
Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
31 Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
you would toss me into a slime pit so that even my own clothes would hate me!
32 For he is not a man as I am, that I might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge.
For God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
33 There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.
If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
34 Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me:
I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
35 Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.
Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
