Job 9
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1This was Job's response:1Then Job replied:
2"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?2"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence 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.3Though they wished to dispute with him, they 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?4His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
5"He removes mountains without their knowledge, overthrowing them in his anger.5He moves mountains without their knowing it 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 and makes its pillars tremble.
7He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars.7He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of 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, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.10He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles 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.11When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'12If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to 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; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
14So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him?14"How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?
15Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.15Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with 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. 16Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
17For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason.17He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
18He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness.18He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
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 mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge 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 innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
21"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life.21"Although 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; that is why 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 a 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?"24When a land falls into the hands 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.25"My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
26They pass by like a ship made of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.26They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
27If I were to say, 'Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,27If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,'
28then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me.28I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility?29Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
30"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,30Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder,
31you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me.31you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
32He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another.32"He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
33There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us,33If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together,
34removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.34someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself."35Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
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Job 8
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