Job 9
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1Then Job spoke again:1This was Job's response:
2“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?2"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?
3If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?3If one were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.
4For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?4He is wise in heart and strong in will— who can be stubborn against him and succeed?
5“Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger.5"He removes mountains without their knowledge, overthrowing them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble.6He shakes the earth from its orbit, so that its foundations shudder.
7If he commands it, the sun won’t rise and the stars won’t shine.7He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars.
8He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea.8He alone spreads out the heavens, he walks on the waves of the sea.
9He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.9He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the southern constellations.
10He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.10He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.
11“Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go.11"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him.
12If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’12Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
13And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet.13"God doesn't restrain his anger. Rahab's assistants are humiliated under him.
14“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him?14So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him?
15Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.15Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.
16And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me.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 attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause.17For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason.
18He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.18He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness.
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?19"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?
20Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.20Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty.
21“I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me— I despise my life.21"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life.
22Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’22I say it's all the same— he destroys both the blameless and the guilty.
23When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent.23If a calamity causes sudden death, he'll mock at the despair of the innocent.
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?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?"
25“My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.25"My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.
26It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.26They pass by like a ship made of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful,27If I were to say, 'Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,
28I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.28then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me.
29Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what’s the use of trying?29I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility?
30Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye,30"If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.31you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me.
32“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.32He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another.
33If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.33There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us,
34The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.34removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.
35Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.35Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself."
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.The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.
Job 8
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