King James Bible | Berean Study Bible |
1Then Job answered and said, | 1Then Job answered: |
2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? | 2“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God? |
3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. | 3If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. |
4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? | 4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered? |
5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. | 5He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger. |
6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. | 6He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble. |
7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. | 7He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars. |
8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. | 8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. |
9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. | 9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. |
10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. | 10He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number. |
11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. | 11Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him. |
12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? | 12If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’ |
13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. | 13God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him. |
14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? | 14How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? |
15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. | 15For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. |
16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. | 16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice. |
17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. | 17For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause. |
18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. | 18He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness. |
19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? | 19If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him? |
20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. | 20Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty. |
21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. | 21Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. |
22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. | 22It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ |
23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. | 23When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent. |
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he? | 24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it? |
25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. | 25My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good. |
26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. | 26They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. |
27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself: | 27If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’ |
28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. | 28I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me. |
29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? | 29Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain? |
30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; | 30If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, |
31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. | 31then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me. |
32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. | 32For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court. |
33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. | 33Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both. |
34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: | 34Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me. |
35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me. | 35Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own. |
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