Job 9
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Job’s Reply to Bildad
9 Then Job answered:
2 Yes, I know what you’ve said is true,
but how can a person be justified before God?(A)
3 If one wanted to take(B) him to court,
he could not answer God[a] once in a thousand times.(C)
4 God is wise(D) and all-powerful.
Who has opposed him and come out unharmed?
5 He removes mountains without their knowledge,
overturning them in his anger.(E)
6 He shakes the earth from its place
so that its pillars tremble.
7 He commands the sun not to shine
and seals off the stars.(F)
8 He alone stretches out the heavens(G)
and treads on the waves of the sea.[b]
9 He makes the stars: the Bear,[c] Orion,
the Pleiades,(H) and the constellations[d] of the southern sky.
10 He does great and unsearchable things,
wonders without number.(I)
11 If he passed by me, I wouldn’t see him;(J)
if he went by, I wouldn’t recognise him.
12 If he snatches something, who can stop[e] him?
Who can ask him, ‘What are you doing? ’(K)
13 God does not hold back his anger;
Rahab’s(L) 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.(M)
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(N)
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!(O)
If it is a matter of justice, who can summon(P) him?[f]
20 Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;(Q)
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.(R)
22 It is all the same. Therefore I say,
‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’(S)
23 When catastrophe[g] brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth[h] is handed over to the wicked;
he blindfolds[i] its judges.(T)
If it isn’t he, then who is it?
25 My days fly by faster than a runner;[j](U)
they flee without seeing any good.(V)
26 They sweep by like boats made of papyrus,
like an eagle swooping down on its prey.(W)
27 If I said, ‘I will forget my complaint,
change my expression, and smile,’
28 I would still live in terror of all my pains.(X)
I know you will not acquit me.(Y)
29 Since I will be found guilty,(Z)
why should I struggle in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow,
and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 then you dip me in a pit of mud,
and my own clothes despise me!
32 For he is not a man like me, that I can answer him,(AA)
that we can take each other to court.
33 There is no mediator between us,
to lay his hand on both of us.
34 Let him take his rod away from me
so his terror will no longer frighten me.(AB)
35 Then I would speak and not fear him.
But that is not the case; I am on my own.
Job 9
New Life Version
Job Talks
9 Then Job answered, 2 “Yes, I know this is true. But how can a man be right and good before God? 3 If one wished to argue with Him, he would not be able to answer one out of a thousand of His questions. 4 He is wise in heart and powerful in strength. Who has ever stood against Him without being hurt? 5 It is He Who takes away the mountains without their knowing it, when He destroys them in His anger. 6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars shake. 7 He tells the sun not to shine, and He keeps the stars from shining. 8 He alone spreads out the heavens and walks upon the waves of the sea. 9 He makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades and the stars of the south. 10 He does things too great for us to understand, and more wonderful works than we can number. 11 When He passes by me, I do not see Him. When He goes by me, I do not know Him. 12 If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 “God will not stop His anger. The helpers of Rahab bow under Him. 14 How then can I answer Him, and choose the right words to speak with Him? 15 Even if I am right, I cannot answer Him. I must beg Him who is against me to have pity. 16 If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice. 17 For He crushes me with a storm, and hurts me more and more without a reason. 18 He will not let me get my breath, but fills me with much that is bitter. 19 If it is a question of power, see, He is the strong one! If it is a question of what is right and fair, who can call Him to a trial? 20 Even if I were right, my mouth would say that I am guilty. Even if I were without blame, He would say I am guilty. 21 Even though I am without blame, I do not care about myself. I hate my life. 22 It is all the same, so I say, ‘He destroys both those who are without blame and the sinful.’ 23 If death comes fast by disease, He makes fun of the trouble of those who have done no wrong. 24 The earth is given into the hand of the sinful. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25 “My days go faster than a runner. They fly away, and see no good. 26 They go by like fast boats, like an eagle coming down to catch its food. 27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaining. I will put off my sad face and be happy,’ 28 I am still afraid of all my pains for I know You will not take away my guilt. 29 Because I am already guilty, why should I try for nothing? 30 If I wash myself with snow and clean my hands using the best soap, 31 You would still throw me down into a deep hole. And my own clothes would hate me. 32 For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, that we might go to trial together. 33 There is no one to decide between us, who might lay his hand upon us both. 34 Let Him stop punishing me. And do not let fear of Him make me so afraid. 35 Then I would speak and not be afraid of Him. But I am not like that in myself.
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