Job 9:2-16 - Compare All Versions

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“Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet. “How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.

“Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength— who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?— he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger, who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea; who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south; who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number. Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ “God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab. How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.

“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight? If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times? For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully? “Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger. He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble. If he commands it, the sun won’t rise and the stars won’t shine. He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea. He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky. He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles. “Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go. If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’ And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet. “So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me.

Yes, I know what you’ve said is true, but how can a person be justified before God?  If one wanted to take   him to court, he could not answer God  once in a thousand times.  God is wise  and all-powerful. Who has opposed him and come out unharmed? He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his anger.  He shakes the earth from its place so that its pillars tremble. He commands the sun not to shine and seals off the stars.  He alone stretches out the heavens  and treads on the waves of the sea.  He makes the stars: the Bear,  Orion, the Pleiades,  and the constellations  of the southern sky. He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.  If he passed by me, I wouldn’t see him;  if he went by, I wouldn’t recognize him. If he snatches something, who can stop   him? Who can ask him, “What are you doing? ”  God does not hold back his anger; Rahab’s  assistants cringe in fear beneath him! How then can I answer him or choose my arguments against him? Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.  If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe he would pay attention to what I said.

I know it is so of a truth: But how should man be just with God? If he will contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand. He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: Which overturneth them in his anger. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble. Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; And sealeth up the stars. Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea. Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, And the chambers of the south. Which doeth great things past finding out; Yea, and wonders without number. Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not. Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou? If God will not withdraw his anger, The proud helpers do stoop under him. How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, But I would make supplication to my judge. If I had called, and he had answered me; Yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

“Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God? If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered? He removes the mountains, and they do not know When He overturns them in His anger; He shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble; He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals off the stars; He alone spreads out the heavens, And treads on the waves of the sea; He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south; He does great things past finding out, Yes, wonders without number. If He goes by me, I do not see Him; If He moves past, I do not perceive Him; If He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’ God will not withdraw His anger, The allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him. “How then can I answer Him, And choose my words to reason with Him? For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge. If I called and He answered me, I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.

Job continued by saying: “So what’s new? I know all this. The question is, ‘How can mere mortals get right with God?’ If we wanted to bring our case before him, what chance would we have? Not one in a thousand! God’s wisdom is so deep, God’s power so immense, who could take him on and come out in one piece? He moves mountains before they know what’s happened, flips them on their heads on a whim. He gives the earth a good shaking up, rocks it down to its very foundations. He tells the sun, ‘Don’t shine,’ and it doesn’t; he pulls the blinds on the stars. All by himself he stretches out the heavens and strides on the waves of the sea. He designed the Big Dipper and Orion, the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri. We’ll never comprehend all the great things he does; his miracle-surprises can’t be counted. Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don’t see him; quietly but surely he’s active, and I miss it. If he steals you blind, who can stop him? Who’s going to say, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ God doesn’t hold back on his anger; even dragon-bred monsters cringe before him. “So how could I ever argue with him, construct a defense that would influence God? Even though I’m innocent I could never prove it; I can only throw myself on the Judge’s mercy. If I called on God and he himself answered me, then, and only then, would I believe that he’d heard me. As it is, he knocks me about from pillar to post, beating me up, black-and-blue, for no good reason. He won’t even let me catch my breath, piles bitterness upon bitterness. If it’s a question of who’s stronger, he wins, hands down! If it’s a question of justice, who’ll serve him the subpoena? Even though innocent, anything I say incriminates me; blameless as I am, my defense just makes me sound worse.

“In truth I know that this is so; But how can a person be in the right with God? “If one wished to dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times. “Wise in heart and mighty in strength, Who has defied Him without harm? “It is God who removes the mountains, and they do not know how, When He overturns them in His anger. “It is He who shakes the earth from its place, And its pillars tremble; Who commands the sun not to shine, And puts a seal on the stars; Who alone stretches out the heavens, And tramples down the waves of the sea; Who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the constellations of the south. “It is He who does great things, the unfathomable, And wondrous works without number. “If He were to pass by me, I would not see Him; Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him. “If He were to snatch away, who could restrain Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’ ¶“God will not turn back His anger; Beneath Him the helpers of Rahab cower. “How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him? “For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my Judge. “If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.

“Yes, I know it is true. But how can a mortal man be right before God? “If one should want to contend or dispute with Him, He could not answer Him once in a thousand times. “God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; Who has [ever] defied or challenged Him and remained unharmed? “It is God who removes the mountains, and they do not know it, When He overturns them in His anger; Who shakes the earth out of its place, And its pillars tremble; Who commands the sun, and it does not shine; Who seals up the stars [from view]; Who alone stretches out the heavens And tramples down the waves of the sea; Who made [the constellations] the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the [vast starry] spaces of the south; Who does great things, [beyond understanding,] unfathomable, Yes, marvelous and wondrous things without number. “Behold, He passes by me, and I do not see Him; He moves past me, but I do not perceive Him. “Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back? Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’ ¶“God will not turn back His anger; The [proud] helpers of Rahab [the arrogant monster of the sea] bow under Him. “How can I answer Him [and plead my case], Choosing my words [to reason] with Him? “For though I were righteous, I could not answer. I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge. “If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.

“Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God? If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength – who has resisted him and remained safe? He who removes mountains suddenly, who overturns them in his anger; he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble; he who commands the sun and it does not shine and seals up the stars; he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea; he makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky; he does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things without number. If he passes by me, I cannot see him, if he goes by, I cannot perceive him. If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ God does not restrain his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lie crushed. “How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him! Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy. If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice