Job Cannot Argue with His Creator

1This was Job’s response:

2“Indeed, I’m fully aware that this is so,

but how can a person become right with God?

3If one were to seek to argue with him,

he won’t be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.

4He is wise in heart and strong in will—

who can be stubborn against him and succeed?

5“He removes mountains without their knowledge,

overthrowing them in his anger.

6He shakes the earth from its orbit,a

so that its foundations shudder.

7He commands the sun so that it doesn’t shineb

and seals up the stars.

8He alone spreads out the heavens,

he walks on the wavesc of the sea.

9He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades,

and the southern constellations.

10He does great things that cannot be explained,

and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.

11“If he were to pass near me, I wouldn’t notice;

if he moves by, I wouldn’t perceive him.

12Indeed, if he snatches someoned away,

who could restrain him?

Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

13“God doesn’t restrain his anger.

Rahab’s assistants are humiliated under him.

14So how am I to answer him,

choosing what I am to say to him?

15Even if I’m in the right,

I cannot answer him.

I can only appeal for mercy.

16“Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me,

I wouldn’t even believe

that he was listening to what I have to say.e

17For he crushes me with a storm,

and keeps on wounding me for no reason.

18He won’t let me catch my breath;

instead, he fills me with bitterness.

19“Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger!

Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?

20Though I’m in the right, my own mouth will condemn me;

though I’m blameless, he’ll pronounce me as guilty.

21“I’m blameless;

I don’t know myself;

I despise my life.

22I say it’s all the same—

he destroys both the blameless and the guilty.f

23If a calamityg causes sudden death,

he’ll mock at the despair of the innocent.

24A land is given into the hands of a wicked person;h

he covers the faces of its judges.

If it is not God,i then who is it?”

Job Argues that God Won’t Acquit Him

25“My days pass faster than a runner;

but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.

26They pass by like a ship made of reeds,

like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

27If I were to say, ‘Let me forget my complaint,’

changej the expression onk my face, and look cheerful,

28then I still dread all of my suffering;

I know you still won’t acquit me.

29I will be condemned,

so why should I wear myself out with this futility?

30“If I wash myself with water from snow,

and cleanse my hands with lye,

31you’ll still drop me into the Pit,l

and my own clothes will despise me.

32He’s not a man like me,

so that I can answer him,

or that we can enter into litigationm with one another.

33There is not yet a mediator between us,

who would set his hand on the two of us,

34removing his rod from me,

and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.

35Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him,

because I’m not like that inside myself.”