King James Bible | International Standard Version |
1Then Job answered and said, | 1This was Job's response: |
2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? | 2"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God? |
3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. | 3If one were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even once in a thousand times. |
4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? | 4He is wise in heart and strong in will— who can be stubborn against him and succeed? |
5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. | 5"He removes mountains without their knowledge, overthrowing them in his anger. |
6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. | 6He shakes the earth from its orbit, so that its foundations shudder. |
7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. | 7He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars. |
8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. | 8He alone spreads out the heavens, he walks on the waves of the sea. |
9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. | 9He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the southern constellations. |
10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number. | 10He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted. |
11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. | 11"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him. |
12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? | 12Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' |
13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him. | 13"God doesn't restrain his anger. Rahab's assistants are humiliated under him. |
14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? | 14So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him? |
15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. | 15Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy. |
16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. | 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. |
17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. | 17For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason. |
18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. | 18He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness. |
19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? | 19"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him? |
20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. | 20Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty. |
21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life. | 21"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life. |
22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. | 22I say it's all the same— he destroys both the blameless and the guilty. |
23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. | 23If a calamity causes sudden death, he'll mock at 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? | 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?" |
25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. | 25"My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good. |
26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. | 26They pass by like a ship made of reeds, 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, 'Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful, |
28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. | 28then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me. |
29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? | 29I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility? |
30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; | 30"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, |
31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. | 31you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me. |
32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. | 32He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another. |
33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. | 33There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us, |
34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: | 34removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me. |
35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me. | 35Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself." |
King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
|