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.

Job 9

Job’s Reply to Bildad

1 Then Job answered:

2 “Truly,t I know that this is so.
But hows can a humant be just beforet God?s

3 If someone wishest to contendt with him,
he cannot answert him one time in a thousand.

4 He is wise in heartts and mightys in strengtht –
who has resistedt him and remained safe?t

5 He who removes mountains suddenly,t
who overturns them in his anger;s

6 he who shakes the earth out of its places
so that its pillars tremble;t

7 he who commands the sun andt it does not shinets
and seals upt the stars;

8 he alone spreads out the heavens,
and treadst on the waves of the sea;t

9 he makes the Bear,s Orion,s and the Pleiades,s
and the constellations of the southern sky;t

10 he does great and unsearchable things,ts
and wonderful things without number.

11 Ift he passes by me, I cannot seet him,t
if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.s

12 If he snatches away,t who can turn him back?t
Who dares to say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

13 God does not restrain his anger;s
under him the helpers of Rahabs lie crushed.t

The Impossibility of Facing God in Court

14 “How much less,t then, can I answer himt
and choose my wordss to arguet witht him!t

15 Althought I am innocent,t
I could not answer him;t
I could only pleadt with my judget for mercy.

16 If I summoned him, and he answered me,s
I would not believet
that he would be listening to my voice –

17 he whot crushest me with a tempest,
and multiplies my wounds for no reason.t

18 He does not allowt me to recovert my breath,
for he fillss me with bitterness.

19 If it is a matter of strength,t
most certainlyt he is the strong one!
And if it is a matter of justice,
he will say, ‘Who will summon me?’ts

20 Although I am innocent,t
my moutht would condemn me;t
although I am blameless,
it would declare me perverse.t

21 I am blameless.t I do not know myself.ts
I despise my life.

Accusation of God’s Justice

22 “It is all one!ss That is why I say,t
‘He destroys the blameless and the guilty.’

23 If a scourge brings sudden death,ss
he mockss at the despairt of the innocent.s

24 If a landt has been given
into the hand of a wicked man,s
he coverst the faces of its judges;s
if it is not he, then who is it?t

Renewed Complaint

25 “My dayst are swifter than a runner,s
they speed by without seeing happiness.

26 They glide byt like reedt boats,
like an eagle that swoopst down on its prey.t

27 If I say,t ‘I willt forget my complaint,
I will change my expressiont and be cheerful,’t

28 I dreadt all my sufferings,s
fort I know that you do not hold me blameless.s

29 If I am guilty,t
why thent weary myselft in vain?t

30 If I wash myself with snow water,t
and make my hands clean with lye,t

31 then you plunge me into a slimy pitt
and my own clothes abhor me.

32 For het is not a human being like I am,
thatt I might answer him,
that we might comet together in judgment.

33 Nor is there an arbiterts between us,
whot might layt his hand on us both,s

34 whot would take hist rods away from me
so that his terrort would not make me afraid.

35 Thent would I speak and not fear him,
but it is not so with me.t