International Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
1This was Job's response: | 1Then Job answered: |
2"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God? | 2“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God? |
3If one were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even once in a thousand times. | 3If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. |
4He is wise in heart and strong in will— who can be stubborn against him and succeed? | 4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered? |
5"He removes mountains without their knowledge, overthrowing them in his anger. | 5He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger. |
6He shakes the earth from its orbit, so that its foundations shudder. | 6He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble. |
7He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars. | 7He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars. |
8He alone spreads out the heavens, he walks on the waves of the sea. | 8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. |
9He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the southern constellations. | 9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. |
10He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted. | 10He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number. |
11"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him. | 11Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him. |
12Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' | 12If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’ |
13"God doesn't restrain his anger. Rahab's assistants are humiliated under him. | 13God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him. |
14So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him? | 14How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? |
15Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy. | 15For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge 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. | 16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice. |
17For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason. | 17For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause. |
18He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness. | 18He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness. |
19"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him? | 19If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him? |
20Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty. | 20Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty. |
21"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life. | 21Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. |
22I say it's all the same— he destroys both the blameless and the guilty. | 22It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ |
23If a calamity causes sudden death, he'll mock at the despair of the innocent. | 23When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent. |
24A land is given into the hands of a wicked person; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not God, then who is it?" | 24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it? |
25"My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good. | 25My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good. |
26They pass by like a ship made of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. | 26They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. |
27If I were to say, 'Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful, | 27If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’ |
28then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me. | 28I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me. |
29I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility? | 29Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain? |
30"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, | 30If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, |
31you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me. | 31then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me. |
32He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another. | 32For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court. |
33There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us, | 33Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both. |
34removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me. | 34Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me. |
35Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself." | 35Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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