Job 9
1 THEN JOB answered and said,2 Yes, I know it is true. But how can mortal man be right before God?3 If one should want to contend with Him, he cannot answer one [of His questions] in a thousand.4 [God] is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has [ever] hardened himself against Him and prospered or even been safe?5 [God] Who removes the mountains, and they know it not when He overturns them in His anger;6 Who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble;7 Who commands the sun, and it rises not; Who seals up the stars [from view];8 Who alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the waves and high places of the sea;9 Who made [the constellations] the Bear, Orion, and the [loose cluster] Pleiades, and the [vast starry] spaces of the south;10 Who does great things past finding out, yes, marvelous things without number.11 Behold, He goes by me, and I see Him not; He passes on also, but I perceive Him not.12 Behold, He snatches away; who can hinder or turn Him back? Who will say to Him, What are You doing?13 God will not withdraw His anger; the [proud] helpers of Rahab [arrogant monster of the sea] bow under Him.14 How much less shall I answer Him, choosing out my words to reason with Him15 Whom, though I were righteous (upright and innocent) yet I could not answer? I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge [for my right].16 If I called and He answered me, yet would I not believe that He listened to my voice.17 For He overwhelms and breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.18 He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.19 If I speak of strength, behold, He is mighty! And if of justice, Who, says He, will summon Me?20 Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, He would prove me perverse.21 Though I am blameless, I regard not myself; I despise my life.22 It is all one; therefore I say, God [does not discriminate, but] destroys the blameless and the wicked.23 When [His] scourge slays suddenly, He mocks at the calamity and trial of the innocent.24 The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges [so that they are blinded to justice]. If it is not [God], who then is it [responsible for all this inequality]?25 Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.26 They are passed away like the swift rowboats made of reeds, or like the eagle that swoops down on the prey.27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer and brighten up,28 I become afraid of all my pains and sorrows [yet to come], for I know You will not pronounce me innocent [by removing them].29 I shall be held guilty and be condemned; why then should I labor in vain [to appear innocent]?30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,31 Yet You will plunge me into the ditch, and my own clothes will abhor me [and refuse to cover so foul a body].32 For [God] is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in court.33 There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand upon us both, [would that there were!] 34 That He might take His rod away from [threatening] me, and that the fear of Him might not terrify me.35 [Then] would I speak and not fear Him, but I am not so in myself [to make me afraid, were only a fair trial given me].
Job 9
Chapter 9
Job’s Third Speech: A Response to Bildad
1 Then Job spoke again:
2 “Yes, I know all this is true in principle.
But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?3 If someone wanted to take God to court,t
would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?4 For God is so wise and so mighty.
Who has ever challenged him successfully?5 “Without warning, he moves the mountains,
overturning them in his anger.6 He shakes the earth from its place,
and its foundations tremble.7 If he commands it, the sun won’t rise
and the stars won’t shine.8 He alone has spread out the heavens
and marches on the waves of the sea.9 He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.10 He does great things too marvelous to understand.
He performs countless miracles.11 “Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him.
When he moves by, I do not see him go.12 If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him?
Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’13 And God does not restrain his anger.
Even the monsters of the seat are crushed beneath his feet.14 “So who am I, that I should try to answer God
or even reason with him?15 Even if I were right, I would have no defense.
I could only plead for mercy.16 And even if I summoned him and he responded,
I’m not sure he would listen to me.17 For he attacks me with a storm
and repeatedly wounds me without cause.18 He will not let me catch my breath,
but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.19 If 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?20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.
Though I am blameless, itt would prove me wicked.21 “I am innocent,
but it makes no difference to me—
I despise my life.22 Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God.
That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’23 When a plaguet sweeps through,
he laughs at the death of the innocent.24 The 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 life passes more swiftly than a runner.
It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.26 It disappears like a swift papyrus boat,
like an eagle swooping down on its prey.27 If I decided to forget my complaints,
to put away my sad face and be cheerful,28 I would still dread all the pain,
for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.29 Whatever happens, I will be found guilty.
So what’s the use of trying?30 Even if I were to wash myself with soap
and clean my hands with lye,31 you would plunge me into a muddy ditch,
and my own filthy clothing would hate me.32 “God is not a mortal like me,
so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.33 If only there were a mediator between us,
someone who could bring us together.34 The mediator could make God stop beating me,
and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.35 Then I could speak to him without fear,
but I cannot do that in my own strength.