Font Size
Job 9:12-26
King James Version
Job 9:12-26
King James Version
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
Read full chapter
Job 9:12-26
New International Version
Job 9:12-26
New International Version
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?(A)
Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’(B)
13 God does not restrain his anger;(C)
even the cohorts of Rahab(D) cowered at his feet.
14 “How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him?(E)
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;(F)
I could only plead(G) with my Judge(H) for mercy.(I)
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing.(J)
17 He would crush me(K) with a storm(L)
and multiply(M) my wounds for no reason.(N)
18 He would not let me catch my breath
but would overwhelm me with misery.(O)
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!(P)
And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him[a]?(Q)
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.(R)
21 “Although I am blameless,(S)
I have no concern for myself;(T)
I despise my own life.(U)
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’(V)
23 When a scourge(W) brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent.(X)
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,(Y)
he blindfolds its judges.(Z)
If it is not he, then who is it?(AA)
Footnotes
- Job 9:19 See Septuagint; Hebrew me.
Job 9:12-26
English Standard Version
Job 9:12-26
English Standard Version
12 Behold, he snatches away; (A)who can turn him back?
(B)Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 “God will not turn back his anger;
beneath him bowed the helpers of (C)Rahab.
14 (D)How then can I (E)answer him,
choosing my words with him?
15 (F)Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
I must (G)appeal for mercy to my accuser.[a]
16 If I summoned him and he answered me,
I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he crushes me with a tempest
and multiplies my wounds (H)without cause;
18 he will not let me get my breath,
but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a contest of (I)strength, behold, he is mighty!
If it is a matter of justice, who can (J)summon him?[b]
20 Though I am in the right, (K)my own mouth would condemn me;
though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
21 I am (L)blameless; I regard not myself;
I (M)loathe my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He (N)destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 When (O)disaster brings sudden death,
he mocks at the calamity[c] of the innocent.
24 (P)The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
he (Q)covers the faces of its judges—
(R)if it is not he, who then is it?
25 “My (S)days are swifter than (T)a runner;
they flee away; they see no good.
26 They go by like (U)skiffs of reed,
like (V)an eagle swooping on the prey.
Job 9:12-26
Christian Standard Bible
Job 9:12-26
Christian Standard Bible
12 If he snatches something, who can stop[a] him?
Who can ask him, “What are you doing?” (A)
13 God does not hold back his anger;
Rahab’s(B) assistants cringe in fear beneath him!
14 How then can I answer him
or choose my arguments against him?
15 Even if I were in the right, I could not answer.
I could only beg my Judge for mercy.(C)
16 If I summoned him and he answered me,
I do not believe he would pay attention to what I said.
17 He batters me with a whirlwind(D)
and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He doesn’t let me catch my breath
but fills me with bitter experiences.
19 If it is a matter of strength, look, he is the powerful one!(E)
If it is a matter of justice, who can summon(F) him?[b]
20 Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;(G)
if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.
21 Though I am blameless,
I no longer care about myself;
I renounce my life.(H)
22 It is all the same. Therefore I say,
“He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.”(I)
23 When catastrophe[c] brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth[d] is handed over to the wicked;
he blindfolds[e] its judges.(J)
If it isn’t he, then who is it?
25 My days fly by faster than a runner;[f](K)
they flee without seeing any good.(L)
26 They sweep by like boats made of papyrus,
like an eagle swooping down on its prey.(M)
Job 9:12-26
New American Standard Bible 1995
Job 9:12-26
New American Standard Bible 1995
12 “Were He to snatch away, who could (A)restrain Him?
Who could say to Him, ‘(B)What are You doing?’
13 “God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him crouch the helpers of (C)Rahab.
14 “How then can (D)I [a]answer Him,
And choose my words [b]before Him?
15 “For (E)though I were right, I could not [c]answer;
I would have to (F)implore the mercy of my judge.
16 “If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17 “For He (G)bruises me with a tempest
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 “He will (H)not allow me to get my breath,
But saturates me with (I)bitterness.
19 “If it is a matter of power, (J)behold, He is the strong one!
And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon [d]Him?
20 “(K)Though I am righteous, my mouth will (L)condemn me;
Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
21 “I am (M)guiltless;
I do not take notice of myself;
I (N)despise my life.
22 “It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He (O)destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
23 “If the scourge kills suddenly,
He (P)mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 “The earth (Q)is given into the hand of the wicked;
He (R)covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, then who is it?
25 “Now (S)my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, (T)they see no good.
26 “They slip by like (U)reed boats,
Like an (V)eagle that swoops on [e]its prey.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995) 
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.