Job Says There Is No Arbitrator between God and Mankind

Then Job responded,

“In truth I know that this is so;
But how can a (A)person be in the right with God?
If one wished to (B)dispute with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
(C)Wise in heart and (D)mighty in strength,
Who has [a](E)defied Him [b]without harm?
(F)It is God who removes the mountains, and they do not know how,
When He overturns them in His anger.
It is He who (G)shakes the earth from its place,
And its (H)pillars tremble;
Who commands the (I)sun [c]not to shine,
And puts a seal on the stars;
Who alone (J)stretches out the heavens,
And [d](K)tramples down the waves of the sea;
Who makes the (L)Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the [e](M)constellations of the south.
10 It is He who (N)does great things, [f]the unfathomable,
And wondrous works without number.
11 If He were to pass by me, (O)I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12 If He were to snatch away, who could (P)restrain Him?
Who could say to Him, ‘(Q)What are You doing?’

13 “God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him the helpers of [g](R)Rahab cower.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 9:4 Lit stiffened his neck against
  2. Job 9:4 Lit and remained safe
  3. Job 9:7 Lit and it does not shine
  4. Job 9:8 Lit treads upon the heights of
  5. Job 9:9 Lit chambers
  6. Job 9:10 Lit until there is no searching out
  7. Job 9:13 I.e., a sea monster, not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2

Job’s Reply to Bildad

Then Job answered:

Yes, I know what you’ve said is true,
but how can a person be justified before God?(A)
If one wanted to take(B) Him to court,
he could not answer God[a] once in a thousand times.(C)
God is wise(D) and all-powerful.
Who has opposed Him and come out unharmed?
He removes mountains without their knowledge,
overturning them in His anger.(E)
He shakes the earth from its place
so that its pillars tremble.
He commands the sun not to shine
and seals off the stars.(F)
He alone stretches out the heavens(G)
and treads on the waves of the sea.[b]
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 passes by me, I wouldn’t see Him;(J)
if He goes right by, I wouldn’t recognize 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!

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Footnotes

  1. Job 9:3 Or court, God would not answer him
  2. Job 9:8 Or and walks on the back of the sea god
  3. Job 9:9 Or Aldebaran
  4. Job 9:9 Or chambers
  5. Job 9:12 Or dissuade