Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
Job replied,
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
“Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
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 mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
God is so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
God moves the mountains suddenly; he overturns them in his anger.
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
He shakes the earth, making its foundations quake.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
God does not restrain his anger; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
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 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Even though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
I am innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
When disaster strikes suddenly he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
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 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
They pass by like fast sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
If I said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
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 should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
For God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
