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.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 9:9 Or of Leo

Job’s Third Speech: A Response to Bildad

Then[a] Job answered and said,

“Truly I know that it is so,
but[b] how can a human being be just before God?
If he wants to contend with him,
he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
He is wise in[c] heart and mighty in[d] strength;
who has resisted him and succeeded?[e]
He is the one who moves mountains, and they do not know how,
who overturns them in his anger.
He is the one who shakes the earth from its place,
and its pillars tremble.
He is the one who commands the sun, and it does not rise,
and he seals up the stars.[f]
He is the one who alone stretches out the heavens
and who tramples on the waves of the sea.
He is the one who made the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 He is the one who does great things beyond understanding[g]
and marvelous things beyond number.[h]
11 If[i] he passes by me, I would not see him;[j]
and if he should move on, I would not recognize him.[k]
12 If[l] he would snatch away, who could turn him?
Who could say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God will not turn back his anger;
beneath him the helpers of Rahab bow.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 9:1 Hebrew “And”
  2. Job 9:2 Hebrew “and”
  3. Job 9:4 Hebrew “of”
  4. Job 9:4 Hebrew “of”
  5. Job 9:4 Literally “he succeeded”
  6. Job 9:7 Literally “and behind the stars he seals up”
  7. Job 9:10 Literally “until there is not understanding”
  8. Job 9:10 Literally “until there is not number”
  9. Job 9:11 Literally “Look”
  10. Job 9:11 Literally “and I would not see”
  11. Job 9:11 Literally “and I would not recognize him”
  12. Job 9:12 Literally “Look”