Job 9:1-20

English Standard Version

² “Truly I know that it is so:
    But how can a man be ^(A)in the right before God?
³ If one wished to ^(B)contend with him,
    one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
⁴ He is ^(C)wise in heart and mighty in strength
    —who has ^(D)hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—
⁵ he who removes mountains, and they know it not,
    when he overturns them in his anger,
⁶ who ^(E)shakes the earth out of its place,
    and ^(F)its pillars tremble;
⁷ who commands the sun, and it does not rise;
    who seals up the stars;
⁸ who alone ^(G)stretched out the heavens
    and trampled the waves of the sea;
⁹ who ^(H)made ^(I)the Bear and ^(J)Orion,
    the Pleiades ^(K)and the chambers of the south;
¹⁰ who does ^(L)great things beyond searching out,
    and marvelous things beyond number.
¹¹ Behold, he passes by me, and I ^(M)see him not;
    he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
¹² Behold, he snatches away; ^(N)who can turn him back?
    ^(O)Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

¹³ “God will not turn back his anger;
    beneath him bowed the helpers of ^(P)Rahab.
^14 (Q)How then can I ^(R)answer him,
    choosing my words with him?
^15 (S)Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
    I must ^(T)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 ^(U)without cause;
¹⁸ he will not let me get my breath,
    but fills me with bitterness.
¹⁹ If it is a contest of ^(V)strength, behold, he is mighty!
    If it is a matter of justice, who can ^(W)summon him?^[b]
20 Though I am in the right, ^(X)my own mouth would condemn me;
    though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.