King James Bible

Christian Standard 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?

2Yes, I know what you've said is true, but how can a person be justified before God?

3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

3If one wanted to take him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times.

4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

4God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed him and come out unharmed?

5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

5He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning 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 pillars tremble.

7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

7He commands the sun not to shine and 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 makes the stars: the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky.

10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

10He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

11If he passed by me, I wouldn't see him; if he went by, I wouldn't recognize him.

12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

12If he snatches something, who can stop him? Who can ask him, "What are you doing?"

13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

13God does not hold back his anger; Rahab's assistants cringe in fear 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.

15Even if I were in the 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 pay attention to what I said.

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

17He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

18He doesn't let me catch my breath but fills me with bitter experiences.

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, look, he is the powerful one! 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 in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, my mouth 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 no longer care about myself; I renounce my life.

22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

22It is all the same. Therefore 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 catastrophe 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 handed over to the wicked; he blindfolds its judges. If it isn't he, then who is it?

25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

25My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good.

26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

26They sweep by like boats made 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 said, "I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile,"

28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

28I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know you will not acquit me.

29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

29Since I will be found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?

30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

30If I 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 dip me in a pit of mud, and my own clothes 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.

33There is no mediator between us, to lay his hand on both of us.

34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

34Let him take his rod away from me so 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 and not fear him. But that is not the case; I am on my own.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.