Add parallel Print Page Options

Job Answers Bildad

Then Job answered:

“·Yes [Truly], I know that this [C Zophar’s point that God punishes the wicked] is ·true [correct],
    but how can anyone be ·right [righteous; vindicated] in the presence of God?
Someone might want to ·argue with God [take God to court],
    but no one could answer God,
    not one time out of a thousand.
·God’s wisdom is deep [L He is wise of heart], and his power is great;
    no one can ·fight [L press] him ·without getting hurt [and come out whole/unscathed].
He moves mountains [C an earthquake] without anyone knowing it
    and turns them over when he is angry.
He shakes the earth out of its place
    and makes its ·foundations [pillars] ·tremble [shudder].
He ·commands the sun not to [L speaks to the sun and it does not] shine
    and ·shuts off the light of [L seals up] the stars.
He alone stretches out the ·skies [heavens]
    and ·walks [treads] on the ·waves [L high places] of the sea.
It is God who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades [C well-known constellations]
    and the ·groups of stars in the southern sky [L chambers of the south].
10 He does ·wonders [great things] that cannot be understood;
    he does so many ·miracles [or marvelous things] they cannot be counted.
11 ·When [or If] he passes me, I cannot see him;
    ·when [or if] he goes by me, I do not ·recognize [perceive] him.
12 If he snatches ·something [or someone] away, no one can ·stop him [or bring them back]
    or say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God will not ·hold back [relent from] his anger.
    Even the ·helpers [allies] of the monster Rahab [C a sea monster; Ps. 89:10] ·lie at his feet in fear [L cower under him].

Read full chapter

Job Says There Is No Arbitrator between God and Man

Then Job answered and said,


“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 [a]waves of the sea;

Who made [the constellations] the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the [vast starry] spaces of the south;
10 
Who does great things, [beyond understanding,] unfathomable,
Yes, marvelous and wondrous things without number.
11 
“Behold, He passes by me, and I do not see Him;
He moves past me, but I do not perceive Him.
12 
“Behold, He snatches away; who can restrain or turn Him back?
Who will say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’

13 
“God will not turn back His anger;
The [proud] helpers of Rahab [the arrogant monster of the sea] bow under Him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:8 Lit high places.

Job

Then Job replied:

“Indeed, I know that this is true.
    But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?(A)
Though they wished to dispute with him,(B)
    they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.(C)
His wisdom(D) is profound, his power is vast.(E)
    Who has resisted(F) him and come out unscathed?(G)
He moves mountains(H) without their knowing it
    and overturns them in his anger.(I)
He shakes the earth(J) from its place
    and makes its pillars tremble.(K)
He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;(L)
    he seals off the light of the stars.(M)
He alone stretches out the heavens(N)
    and treads on the waves of the sea.(O)
He is the Maker(P) of the Bear[a] and Orion,
    the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.(Q)
10 He performs wonders(R) that cannot be fathomed,
    miracles that cannot be counted.(S)
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
    when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.(T)
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?(U)
    Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’(V)
13 God does not restrain his anger;(W)
    even the cohorts of Rahab(X) cowered at his feet.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:9 Or of Leo