Job 9:20,32-33 - Compare All Versions

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Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together

Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together. There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.

“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.

Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;  if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.

For he is not a man like me, that I can answer him,  that we can take each other to court. There is no mediator between us, to lay his hand on both of us.

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, And we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

“For He is not a man, as I am, That I may answer Him, And that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us, Who may lay his hand on us both.

“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.

“God and I are not equals; I can’t bring a case against him. We’ll never enter a courtroom as peers. How I wish we had an arbitrator to step in and let me get on with life— To break God’s death grip on me, to free me from this terror so I could breathe again. Then I’d speak up and state my case boldly. As things stand, there is no way I can do it.”

“Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.

“For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him— That we may go to court together! “There is no arbitrator between us, Who can place his hand upon us both.

“Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty; Though I am blameless, He would denounce me as guilty.

“For God is not a [mere] man, as I am, that I may answer Him, That we may go to court and judgment together. “There is no arbitrator between us, Who could lay his hand upon us both [would that there were]. [1 Tim 2:5]

Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.

For he is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment. Nor is there an arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both