Job 9
9
Job’s Third Speech: A Response to Bildad
1Then Job spoke again:
2“Yes, I know all this is true in principle.
But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?
3If someone wanted to take God to court,#9:3 Or If God wanted to take someone to court.
would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?
4For God is so wise and so mighty.
Who has ever challenged him successfully?
5“Without warning, he moves the mountains,
overturning them in his anger.
6He shakes the earth from its place,
and its foundations tremble.
7If he commands it, the sun won’t rise
and the stars won’t shine.
8He alone has spread out the heavens
and marches on the waves of the sea.
9He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.
10He does great things too marvelous to understand.
He performs countless miracles.
11“Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him.
When he moves by, I do not see him go.
12If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him?
Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’
13And God does not restrain his anger.
Even the monsters of the sea#9:13 Hebrew the helpers of Rahab, the name of a mythical sea monster that represents chaos in ancient literature. are crushed beneath his feet.
14“So who am I, that I should try to answer God
or even reason with him?
15Even if I were right, I would have no defense.
I could only plead for mercy.
16And even if I summoned him and he responded,
I’m not sure he would listen to me.
17For he attacks me with a storm
and repeatedly wounds me without cause.
18He will not let me catch my breath,
but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.
19If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one.
If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him#9:19 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads me. to court?
20Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.
Though I am blameless, it#9:20 Or he. would prove me wicked.
21“I am innocent,
but it makes no difference to me—
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.’
23When a plague#9:23 Or disaster. sweeps through,
he laughs at the death 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?
25“My life passes more swiftly than a runner.
It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.
26It disappears like a swift papyrus boat,
like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27If I decided to forget my complaints,
to put away my sad face and be cheerful,
28I would still dread all the pain,
for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.
29Whatever happens, I will be found guilty.
So what’s the use of trying?
30Even if I were to wash myself with soap
and clean my hands with lye,
31you would plunge me into a muddy ditch,
and my own filthy clothing would hate me.
32“God is not a mortal like me,
so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
33If only there were a mediator between us,
someone who could bring us together.
34The mediator could make God stop beating me,
and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35Then I could speak to him without fear,
but I cannot do that in my own strength.
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Job 9: NLT
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Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
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Job 9
9
Job: There Is No Mediator
1Then Job answered and said:
2“Truly I know it is so,
But how can a #(Job 4:17; 15:14–16; Ps. 143:2; Rom. 3:20)man be #(Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38)righteous before God?
3If one wished to contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4#Job 36:5God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
5He removes the mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger;
6He #Is. 2:19, 21; Hag. 2:6; Heb. 12:26shakes the earth out of its place,
And its #Job 26:11pillars tremble;
7He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;
8#Gen. 1:6; Job 37:18; Ps. 104:2, 3; Is. 40:22He alone spreads out the heavens,
And treads on the waves of the sea;
9#Gen. 1:16; Job 38:31; Amos 5:8He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;
10#Job 5:9He does great things past finding out,
Yes, wonders without number.
11#(Job 23:8, 9; 35:14)If He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
12#(Is. 45:9; Dan. 4:35; Rom. 9:20)If He takes away, who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13God will not withdraw His anger,
#Job 26:12The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.
14“How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him?
15#Job 10:15; 23:1–7For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge.
16If I called and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17For He crushes me with a tempest,
And multiplies my wounds #Job 2:3without cause.
18He will not allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with bitterness.
19If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?
20Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
21“I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life.
22It is all one thing;
Therefore I say, #(Eccl. 9:2, 3); Ezek. 21:3‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’
23If the scourge slays suddenly,
He laughs at the plight of the innocent.
24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, who else could it be?
25“Now #Job 7:6, 7my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.
26They pass by like swift ships,
#Job 39:29; Hab. 1:8Like an eagle swooping on its prey.
27#Job 7:13If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’
28#Ps. 119:120I am afraid of all my sufferings;
I know that You #Ex. 20:7will not hold me innocent.
29If I am condemned,
Why then do I labor in vain?
30#(Jer. 2:22)If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with soap,
31Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes will abhor me.
32“For #Eccl. 6:10; (Is. 45:9; Jer. 49:19; Rom. 9:20)He is not a man, as I am,
That I may answer Him,
And that we should go to court together.
33#(1 Sam. 2:25); Job 9:19; Is. 1:18Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.
34#Job 13:20, 21; Ps. 39:10Let Him take His rod away from me,
And do not let dread of Him terrify me.
35Then I would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.