Print Page Options

Job Replies There Is No Adjudicator

Then Job answered and said,

“In truth I know that this is so;
But how can a (A)man be in the right [a]before God?
If one desired to (B)contend with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
(C)Wise in heart and (D)mighty in power,
Who has (E)stiffened his neck against Him and been at peace?
(F)God is the One who removes the mountains, they know not how,
When He overturns them in His anger;
The One who (G)shakes the earth out of its place,
And its (H)pillars tremble;
The One who says for the (I)sun [b]not to shine,
And sets a seal upon the stars;
Who alone (J)stretches out the heavens,
And [c](K)tramples down the waves of the sea;
Who makes the (L)Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the (M)chambers of the south;
10 Who (N)does great things, unsearchable,
And wondrous works, innumerable.
11 Were He to sweep by me, (O)I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12 Were He to snatch away, who could (P)turn Him back?
Who could say to Him, ‘(Q)What are You doing?’

13 “God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him crouch the helpers of (R)Rahab.
14 How then can (S)I [d]answer Him,
And choose my words [e]before Him?
15 For (T)though I were right, I could not [f]answer;
I would have to (U)plead for the grace of my judge.
16 If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was giving ear to my voice.
17 For He (V)bruises me with a tempest
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will (W)not allow me to get my breath,
But saturates me with (X)bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of power, (Y)behold, He is the mighty one!
And if it is a matter of justice, who can make [g]Him testify?
20 (Z)Though I am righteous, my mouth will (AA)condemn me;
Though I am blameless, He will declare me perverse.
21 I am (AB)blameless;
I do not know my soul;
I (AC)reject my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He (AD)consumes the blameless and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge puts to death suddenly,
He (AE)mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth (AF)is given into the hand of the wicked;
He (AG)covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, then who is it?

25 “Now (AH)my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away; (AI)they do not see good.
26 They sweep by like (AJ)reed boats,
Like an (AK)eagle that swoops on its food.
27 Though I say, ‘I will forget (AL)my musing,
I will forsake my sad countenance and be cheerful,’
28 I am (AM)afraid of all my pains;
I know that (AN)You will not acquit me.
29 I am accounted (AO)wicked;
Why then should I toil in vain?
30 If I should (AP)wash myself with snow
And cleanse (AQ)my hands with lye,
31 Yet You would plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would abhor me.
32 For (AR)He is not a man as I am that (AS)I may answer Him,
That we may go to court for judgment together.
33 There is no (AT)adjudicator between us,
Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let Him (AU)remove His rod from me,
And let not dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I (AV)would speak and not fear Him;
But I am not like that in myself.

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:2 Lit with
  2. Job 9:7 Lit and it does not shine
  3. Job 9:8 Lit treads upon the heights of
  4. Job 9:14 Or plead my case before
  5. Job 9:14 Lit with
  6. Job 9:15 Or plead my case
  7. Job 9:19 As in Gr; Heb me

Naghambal si Job

Dayon nagsabat si Job, “Huo, matuod inang ginasiling mo. Pero paano makapamatuod ang tawo nga inosente siya sa atubangan sang Dios? Bisan baison pa niya ang Dios sa korte, wala siya sing may mahimo, kay sa isa ka libo nga pamangkot sang Dios bisan isa indi niya masabat. Maalam kag gamhanan gid ang Dios. Sin-o bala ang nagkontra sa iya kag nagmadinalag-on?

“Sa wala sing paandam, ginauyog niya ang mga bukid kag nagakalatiphag ini sa iya kaakig. Ginapalinog niya ang duta halin sa pundasyon sini. Sa iya lang pagmando, puwede nga indi magbutlak ang adlaw kag indi magsiga ang mga bituon. Siya lang ang nagahumlad sang kalangitan, kag siya lang ang nagapauntat sang balod. Siya ang nagtuga sang mga grupo sang mga bituon nga ginatawag Oso, Orion, Pleades, kag sang mga bituon sa bagatnan. 10 Nagahimo siya sang makatilingala nga mga butang kag mga milagro nga indi matungkad kag indi maisip. 11 Kon maglabay siya sa akon, indi ko siya makita kag mabatyagan. 12 Kon may gusto siya nga kuhaon, wala sing may makapugong sa iya. Sin-o bala ang makareklamo sa iya ginahimo? 13 Wala ginapunggan sang Dios ang iya kaakig. Bisan ang mga kabulig sang dragon nga si Rahab nagaluhod sa kahadlok sa iya. 14 Gani paano ko madepensahan ang akon kaugalingon sa Dios? Ano ang ihambal ko para makipagbais sa iya? 15 Bisan inosente pa ako, indi ako makadepensa sang akon kaugalingon. Ang mahimo ko lang amo ang pagpakitluoy sa Dios nga akon Manughukom. 16 Bisan pangabayon ko siya nga mag-atubangay kami kag magsugot siya, indi gihapon niya ako pagpamatian. 17 Kay ginapaantos niya ako nga daw sa ginasalakay sang bagyo, kag ginadugangan niya ang akon mga kasakit sa wala sing rason. 18 Daw halos indi niya ako pagpaginhawaon sing maayo sa mga kasakit nga ginapaantos niya sa akon. 19 Kon sa pakusog lang, makusog gid siya! Kag kon sa akusaray, sin-o ang makaakusar sa iya? 20 Bisan inosente pa ako, sentensyahan gihapon ako nga silutan tungod sang akon ginapanghambal sa pagdepensa sa akon kaugalingon. 21 Bisan wala sing kasawayan ang akon kabuhi, baliwala na ini sa akon. Ginakaugtan ko ang akon kabuhi. 22 Kay amo man lang gihapon; pareho lang nga laglagon sang Dios ang matarong kag ang malaot. 23 Nagakadlaw lang siya kon mapatay gulpi ang matarong sa kalamidad. 24 Gintugyan niya ang kalibutan sa mga malaot. Ginatabunan niya ang mata sang mga manughukom. Kon indi siya ang nagahimo sini, ti sin-o pa abi?

25 “Kadasig magligad sang mga inadlaw sang akon kabuhi; daw mas madasig pa sang sa manugdalagan. Nagaligad ini nga wala gid sing kalipay. 26 Huo, kadasig magligad sang akon kabuhi; pareho kadasig sang madasig nga sakayan ukon sang agila nga nagasibad. 27 Bisan indi na ako magreklamo kag untatan ko na ang pagpangasubo, kag magyuhom na ako, 28 mahadlok gihapon ako sa mga pag-antos nga mag-abot sa akon. Kay nahibaluan ko nga indi niya ako pagkabigon nga inosente. 29 Sanglit ginakabig niya ako subong nga nakasala, ano pa ang pulos sa pagpaninguha ko nga depensahan ang akon kaugalingon? 30 Bisan pa habunan ko ang akon bug-os nga lawas agod mangin matinlo ako, 31 itum-oy niya gihapon ako sa lunangon nga buho, agod bisan ang akon bayo mangil-aran sa akon. 32 Indi tawo ang Dios pareho sa akon, gani indi ako makabais sa iya kag makaakusar sa iya sa korte. 33 Kuntani may makapatunga sa amon nga duha sa paghusay sa amon. 34 Kag mapauntat niya ang paghanot sang Dios sa akon, agod indi na ako mahadlok. 35 Dayon makahambal na ako sa iya nga wala sing kahadlok, pero sa karon indi ko pa ini mahimo.”

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)
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
    I do not believe he would give me a hearing.(AD)
17 He would crush me(AE) with a storm(AF)
    and multiply(AG) my wounds for no reason.(AH)
18 He would not let me catch my breath
    but would overwhelm me with misery.(AI)
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!(AJ)
    And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him[b]?(AK)
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
    if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.(AL)

21 “Although I am blameless,(AM)
    I have no concern for myself;(AN)
    I despise my own life.(AO)
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
    ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’(AP)
23 When a scourge(AQ) brings sudden death,
    he mocks the despair of the innocent.(AR)
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,(AS)
    he blindfolds its judges.(AT)
    If it is not he, then who is it?(AU)

25 “My days are swifter than a runner;(AV)
    they fly away without a glimpse of joy.(AW)
26 They skim past(AX) like boats of papyrus,(AY)
    like eagles swooping down on their prey.(AZ)
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,(BA)
    I will change my expression, and smile,’
28 I still dread(BB) all my sufferings,
    for I know you will not hold me innocent.(BC)
29 Since I am already found guilty,
    why should I struggle in vain?(BD)
30 Even if I washed myself with soap(BE)
    and my hands(BF) with cleansing powder,(BG)
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit(BH)
    so that even my clothes would detest me.(BI)

32 “He is not a mere mortal(BJ) like me that I might answer him,(BK)
    that we might confront each other in court.(BL)
33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,(BM)
    someone to bring us together,(BN)
34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,(BO)
    so that his terror would frighten me no more.(BP)
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,(BQ)
    but as it now stands with me, I cannot.(BR)

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:9 Or of Leo
  2. Job 9:19 See Septuagint; Hebrew me.

Then Job answered and said,

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

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.

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

Job: There Is No Mediator

Then Job answered and said:

“Truly I know it is so,
But how can a (A)man be (B)righteous before God?
If one wished to [a]contend with Him,
He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
(C)God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
He removes the mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger;
He (D)shakes the earth out of its place,
And its (E)pillars tremble;
He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;
(F)He alone spreads out the heavens,
And [b]treads on the [c]waves of the sea;
(G)He made [d]the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the chambers of the south;
10 (H)He does great things past finding out,
Yes, wonders without number.
11 (I)If He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
12 (J)If He takes away, [e]who can hinder Him?
Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 God will not withdraw His anger,
(K)The allies of [f]the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.

14 “How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him?
15 (L)For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called 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 (M)without cause.
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?
20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life.
22 It is all one thing;
Therefore I say, (N)‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge slays suddenly,
He laughs at the plight of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, who else could it be?

25 “Now (O)my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.
26 They pass by like [g]swift ships,
(P)Like an eagle swooping on its prey.
27 (Q)If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’
28 (R)I am afraid of all my sufferings;
I know that You (S)will not hold me innocent.
29 If I am condemned,
Why then do I labor in vain?
30 (T)If I wash myself with snow water,
And cleanse my hands with [h]soap,
31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes will [i]abhor me.

32 “For (U)He is not a man, as I am,
That I may answer Him,
And that we should go to court together.
33 (V)Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.
34 (W)Let Him take His rod away from me,
And do not let dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:3 argue
  2. Job 9:8 walks
  3. Job 9:8 Lit. heights
  4. Job 9:9 Heb. Ash, Kesil, and Kimah
  5. Job 9:12 Lit. who can turn Him back?
  6. Job 9:13 Heb. rahab
  7. Job 9:26 Lit. ships of reeds
  8. Job 9:30 lye
  9. Job 9:31 loathe