25 “Now (A)my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, (B)they see no good.
26 They slip by like (C)reed boats,
Like an (D)eagle that swoops on [a]its prey.
27 Though I say, ‘I will forget (E)my complaint,
I will [b]put my face in order and be cheerful,’
28 I am (F)afraid of all my pains,
I know that (G)You will not acquit me.
29 I am (H)guilty,
Why then should I struggle in vain?
30 If I (I)washed myself with snow,
And cleansed (J)my hands with lye,
31 Then You would plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would loathe me.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 9:26 Lit food
  2. Job 9:27 I.e., improve the look

25 Now my days are swifter than a [a]post:
They flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed away as the [b]swift ships;
As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad countenance, and [c]be of good cheer;
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows,
I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I shall be condemned;
Why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself [d]with snow water,
And [e]make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch,
And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 9:25 Or, runner
  2. Job 9:26 Hebrew ships of reed.
  3. Job 9:27 Hebrew brighten up.
  4. Job 9:30 Another reading is, with snow.
  5. Job 9:30 Hebrew cleanse my hands with lye.

25 “My days are swifter than a runner;(A)
    they fly away without a glimpse of joy.(B)
26 They skim past(C) like boats of papyrus,(D)
    like eagles swooping down on their prey.(E)
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,(F)
    I will change my expression, and smile,’
28 I still dread(G) all my sufferings,
    for I know you will not hold me innocent.(H)
29 Since I am already found guilty,
    why should I struggle in vain?(I)
30 Even if I washed myself with soap(J)
    and my hands(K) with cleansing powder,(L)
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit(M)
    so that even my clothes would detest me.(N)

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