21 (A)Oh, that one might plead for a man with God,
As a man pleads for his [a]neighbor!

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Footnotes

  1. Job 16:21 friend

21 on behalf of a man he pleads(A) with God
    as one pleads for a friend.

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10 Whatever one is, he has been named (A)already,
For it is known that he is man;
(B)And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he.

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10 Whatever exists has already been named,(A)
    and what humanity is has been known;
no one can contend
    with someone who is stronger.

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20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? (A)Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

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20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?(A) “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,(B) ‘Why did you make me like this?’”[a](C)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:20 Isaiah 29:16; 45:9

“Woe to him who strives with (A)his Maker!
Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth!
(B)Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?

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“Woe to those who quarrel(A) with their Maker,(B)
    those who are nothing but potsherds(C)
    among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,(D)
    ‘What are you making?’(E)
Does your work say,
    ‘The potter has no hands’?(F)

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God’s Power and Wisdom

40 Moreover the Lord (A)answered Job, and said:

“Shall (B)the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who (C)rebukes God, let him answer it.”

Job’s Response to God

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold,(D) I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
(E)I lay my hand over my mouth.
Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

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40 The Lord said to Job:(A)

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty(B) correct him?(C)
    Let him who accuses God answer him!”(D)

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am unworthy(E)—how can I reply to you?
    I put my hand over my mouth.(F)
I spoke once, but I have no answer(G)
    twice, but I will say no more.”(H)

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35 (A)Oh, that I had one to hear me!
Here is my mark.
Oh, (B)that the Almighty would answer me,
That my [a]Prosecutor had written a book!

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Footnotes

  1. Job 31:35 Lit. Accuser

35 (“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!(A)
    I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;
    let my accuser(B) put his indictment in writing.

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(A)Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
I would present my case before Him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know the words which He would answer me,
And understand what He would say to me.
(B)Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

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If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!(A)
I would state my case(B) before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.(C)
I would find out what he would answer me,(D)
    and consider what he would say to me.
Would he vigorously oppose me?(E)
    No, he would not press charges against me.(F)
There the upright(G) can establish their innocence before him,(H)
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.(I)

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22 Then call, and I will (A)answer;
Or let me speak, then You respond to me.

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22 Then summon me and I will answer,(A)
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.(B)

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(A)But I would speak to the Almighty,
And I desire to reason with God.

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But I desire to speak to the Almighty(A)
    and to argue my case with God.(B)

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34 (A)Let Him take His rod away from me,
And do not let dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.

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34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,(A)
    so that his terror would frighten me no more.(B)
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,(C)
    but as it now stands with me, I cannot.(D)

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