Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. New Living Translation Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. English Standard Version Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. Berean Standard Bible For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. King James Bible Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. New King James Version For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge. New American Standard Bible “For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my Judge. NASB 1995 “For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. NASB 1977 “For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. Legacy Standard Bible For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to plead for the grace of my judge. Amplified Bible “For though I were righteous, I could not answer. I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge. Christian Standard Bible Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. Holman Christian Standard Bible Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. American Standard Version Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. Contemporary English Version Even though I am innocent, I can only beg for mercy. English Revised Version Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to mine adversary. GOD'S WORD® Translation Even if I were right, I could not answer [him]. I would have to plead for mercy from my judge. Good News Translation Though I am innocent, all I can do is beg for mercy from God my judge. International Standard Version Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy. Majority Standard Bible For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. NET Bible Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy. New Heart English Bible Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn't answer him. I would make petition to my judge. Webster's Bible Translation Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. World English Bible Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, "" For my judgment I make supplication. Young's Literal Translation Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication. Smith's Literal Translation Whom, if I was just, I shall not answer; I will make supplication to my judge. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge. Catholic Public Domain Version And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge. New American Bible Even though I were right, I could not answer, but should rather beg for what was due me. New Revised Standard Version Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf I am not justified I would not resist, but I would make supplication to my judge. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated If I am not justified, I will not be heard, and to my Judge I shall make supplication OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me. Brenton Septuagint Translation For though I be righteous, he will not hearken to me: I will intreat his judgment. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Job: How Can I Argue with God?…14How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? 15For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. 16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.… Cross References Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. / Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin. Psalm 143:2 Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You. Luke 18:13-14 But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ / I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Isaiah 64:6 Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, / and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 1 John 1:8-9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Micah 7:9 Because I have sinned against Him, I must endure the rage of the LORD, until He argues my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see His righteousness. Romans 7:18-19 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. / For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. 1 Corinthians 4:4 My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me. Isaiah 6:5 Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” Philippians 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. Psalm 130:3-4 If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? / But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared. Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Romans 8:33-34 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. / Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us. James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. Treasury of Scripture Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. though Job 10:15 If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; 1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. I would Job 5:8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Job 8:5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; Job 10:2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. my judge Job 23:7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Jump to Previous Able Accuser Appeal Cause Contendeth Good Grace Implore Innocent Judge Judgment Mercy Plead Request Right Righteous Supplication Wouldn'tJump to Next Able Accuser Appeal Cause Contendeth Good Grace Implore Innocent Judge Judgment Mercy Plead Request Right Righteous Supplication Wouldn'tJob 9 1. Job acknowledges God's justice22. Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions For even if I were right, I could not answer. In this phrase, Job acknowledges the futility of arguing his case before God, even if he believes himself to be righteous. This reflects the broader theme of human limitations in understanding divine justice. Job's statement is set against the backdrop of his suffering and the accusations from his friends that his suffering must be due to sin. Theologically, this highlights the concept of God's sovereignty and the inscrutability of His ways, as seen in Isaiah 55:8-9, where God's thoughts and ways are higher than human understanding. Job's humility here prefigures the New Testament teaching on the need for grace, as seen in Romans 3:23, where all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. Persons / Places / Events 1. JobA man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. He is the central figure in the Book of Job, known for his immense suffering and unwavering faith. 2. God (Judge) Referred to as the Judge in this verse, God is the ultimate authority and arbiter of justice. Job acknowledges God's supreme power and righteousness. 3. Job's Suffering The context of this verse is Job's response to his immense suffering, which includes the loss of his children, wealth, and health. Job is wrestling with understanding his suffering in light of his righteousness. Teaching Points Acknowledgment of Human LimitationJob recognizes that even if he were right, he could not stand before God on his own merit. This teaches us the importance of humility and the acknowledgment of our limitations before a holy God. The Necessity of God's Mercy Job's plea for mercy underscores the essential nature of God's grace in our lives. We must continually seek God's mercy, understanding that it is not our righteousness but His grace that sustains us. Faith in the Midst of Suffering Despite his suffering, Job maintains his faith in God. This challenges us to trust in God's character and justice, even when we do not understand our circumstances. The Role of a Mediator Job's desire for mercy points to the need for a mediator between humanity and God, which is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. This foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Christ as our advocate.(15) Though I were righteous.--He now puts the alternative case: that he were actually righteous; yet even then supplication, and not assertion, would best become him.Verse 15. - Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer. Even perfect righteousness, so far as possible in a creature, would not enable a non to stand up in controversy with him who "charges his angels with folly" (Job 4:18); and, moreover, to such righteousness Job does not pretend (see Job 7:20, 21). But I would make supplication to my Judge; rather, to mine adversary (see the Revised Version). Prayer is the only rightful attitude of even the best man before his Maker - prayer for mercy, prayer for pardon prayer for grace, prayer for advance in holiness. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forאֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that even if אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not I were right, צָ֭דַקְתִּי (ṣā·ḏaq·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous I could not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no answer. אֶעֱנֶ֑ה (’e·‘ĕ·neh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 6030: To answer, respond I could only beg my Judge לִ֝מְשֹׁפְטִ֗י (lim·šō·p̄ə·ṭî) Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate for mercy. אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃ (’eṯ·ḥan·nān) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore Links Job 9:15 NIVJob 9:15 NLT Job 9:15 ESV Job 9:15 NASB Job 9:15 KJV Job 9:15 BibleApps.com Job 9:15 Biblia Paralela Job 9:15 Chinese Bible Job 9:15 French Bible Job 9:15 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Job 9:15 Though I were righteous yet I wouldn't (Jb) |
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