New International Version | New Living Translation |
1Then Job replied: | 1Then Job spoke again: |
2"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? | 2“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight? |
3Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. | 3If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times? |
4His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? | 4For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully? |
5He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. | 5“Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger. |
6He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. | 6He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble. |
7He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. | 7If he commands it, the sun won’t rise and the stars won’t shine. |
8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. | 8He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea. |
9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. | 9He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky. |
10He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. | 10He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles. |
11When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. | 11“Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go. |
12If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' | 12If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’ |
13God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet. | 13And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet. |
14"How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? | 14“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? |
15Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. | 15Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. |
16Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. | 16And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. |
17He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. | 17For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. |
18He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. | 18He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows. |
19If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? | 19If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court? |
20Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty. | 20Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked. |
21"Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. | 21“I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me— I despise my life. |
22It is all the same; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.' | 22Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ |
23When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. | 23When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent. |
24When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it? | 24The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is? |
25"My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. | 25“My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness. |
26They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey. | 26It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. |
27If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,' | 27If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful, |
28I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent. | 28I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God. |
29Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain? | 29Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what’s the use of trying? |
30Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder, | 30Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye, |
31you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me. | 31you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me. |
32"He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. | 32“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. |
33If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, | 33If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. |
34someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. | 34The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. |
35Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot. | 35Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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