Job 9

1Then Job answered and said,

1Then Job replied:

2Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?

2I know for a fact that what you say is true. But how can a mere human being be right in a court of law against God?

3If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.

3If someone wanted to argue with him, they couldn't answer him once in a thousand times.

4He iswise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?—

4His wisdom is deep and his power is massive. Who has ever defied him and come out okay?

5Himthat removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;

5He moves mountains without them even knowing it and flips them over in his anger.

6That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;

6He shakes the earth out of its place so that its foundations tremble.

7That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;

7He commands the sun not to shine and seals up the light of the stars.

8That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;

8He alone stretches out the sky and walks on the waves of the sea.

9That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;

9He made the constellations—the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades—and the star clusters of the southern sky.

10That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.

10He does great things that are beyond understanding and performs countless miracles.

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

11When he passes by me, I cannot see him; he moves past, but I don't even notice.

12Behold, he seizeth the prey, who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?

12If he snatches something away, who can stop him? Who can dare to ask him, 'What are you doing?'

13God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.

13God does not hold back his anger; even the helpers of the sea monster Rahab bow down beneath him.

14How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him?

14So how could I ever answer him? How could I find the right words to argue my case? expansion

15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

15Even if I were innocent, I couldn't answer him. I could only plead for mercy from my Judge.

16If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

16Even if I summoned him and he actually responded, I wouldn't believe he was really listening to me.

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

17He crushes me with a storm and bruises me over and over for no reason.

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.

18He won't even let me catch my breath, but fills my life with bitterness.

19Ifwe speakof strength, lo, he ismighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?

19If it is a matter of strength, he is the mighty one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him to court?

20Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

20Even if I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even if I am innocent, it would prove me wrong.

21I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.

21I am innocent, but I don't even care about myself anymore; I hate my own life.

22It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

22It’s all the same to me; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.'

23If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

23When a deadly plague strikes suddenly, he laughs at the despair of the innocent.

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: Ifit benothe, who then is it?

24The earth is handed over to the wicked; he blindfolds the eyes of its judges. If it isn't him doing it, then who is it?

25Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good.

25My days fly by faster than a runner; they sprint away without seeing any happiness.

26They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

26They glide past like swift boats made of papyrus, like an eagle diving for its prey.

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer;

27If I say, 'I will forget my complaining, I will change my expression and smile,'

28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

28I am still terrified by all my pain. I know you will not declare me innocent.

29I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?

29Since I am already found guilty, why should I even try?

30If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;

30Even if I washed myself with melted snow and cleaned my hands with lye,

31Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

31you would just plunge me into a mud pit until my own clothes would be disgusted by me.

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.

32God is not a human being like me; I cannot answer him. We cannot walk into court together.

33There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.

33I wish there were someone to mediate between us, someone who could bring us both together.

34Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:

34If God would only stop punishing me and stop terrifying me with his greatness,

35Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.

35then I would speak up without fear. But as it stands, I cannot do that on my own.