Job 9:15-26

English Standard Version

^15 (A)Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
    I must ^(B)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 ^(C)without cause;
¹⁸ he will not let me get my breath,
    but fills me with bitterness.
¹⁹ If it is a contest of ^(D)strength, behold, he is mighty!
    If it is a matter of justice, who can ^(E)summon him?^[b]
20 Though I am in the right, ^(F)my own mouth would condemn me;
    though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
²¹ I am ^(G)blameless; I regard not myself;
    I ^(H)loathe my life.
²² It is all one; therefore I say,
    ‘He ^(I)destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
²³ When ^(J)disaster brings sudden death,
    he mocks at the calamity^[c] of the innocent.
^24 (K)The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
    he ^(L)covers the faces of its judges—
    ^(M)if it is not he, who then is it?