Add parallel Print Page Options

Job Replies: There Is No Mediator

Then Job answered:

“Truly I know that it is so:
    But how can a man be just 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;[a]
who made the Bear and Orion,
    the Plei′ades and the chambers of the south;
10 who does great things beyond understanding,
    and marvelous things without number.
11 Lo, he passes by me, and I see him not;
    he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him?
    Who will say to him, ‘What doest thou?’

13 “God will not turn back his anger;
    beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
14 How then can I answer him,
    choosing my words with him?
15 Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him;
    I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.[b]

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:8 Or trampled the back of the sea dragon
  2. Job 9:15 Or for my right

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.

14 “How then can I dispute with him?
    How can I find words to argue with him?(Y)
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;(Z)
    I could only plead(AA) with my Judge(AB) for mercy.(AC)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:9 Or of Leo

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him,
    that we should come to trial together.
33 There is no[a] umpire between us,
    who might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me,
    and let not dread of him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak without fear of him,
    for I am not so in myself.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:33 Another reading is Would that there were

32 “He is not a mere mortal(A) like me that I might answer him,(B)
    that we might confront each other in court.(C)
33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,(D)
    someone to bring us together,(E)
34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,(F)
    so that his terror would frighten me no more.(G)
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,(H)
    but as it now stands with me, I cannot.(I)

Read full chapter