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

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Job 8
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