Job 9:14-20
Modern English Version
14 “How, then, can I myself answer Him,
and choose my words to reason with Him?
15 Even if I were righteous I could not answer;
I would plead to my Judge for favor.
16 If I called, and He answered me,
I would not believe that He had listened to my voice.
17 For He crushes me with a storm
and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to get 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 set me a time to plead?
20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
though I were perfect, it would prove me perverse.
Job 9:14-20
Lexham English Bible
14 How much less[a] can I myself[b] answer him?
How can I choose my words with him,
15 whom I cannot answer, even though I am righteous?
From[c] my judge I must implore grace.
16 If I summon him, and he should answer me,
I do not believe that he will listen to my voice—
17 who crushes me with a tempest
and multiplies[d] my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to catch[e] my breath;
rather, he will fill me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of[f] strength, look, he is mighty.
But[g] if it is a matter of[h] justice, who can summon me?[i]
20 Even though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;
even though I am blameless, yet[j] it would pronounce me guilty.
Footnotes
- Job 9:14 Literally “Also for”
- Job 9:14 Emphatic personal pronoun
- Job 9:15 Hebrew “To”
- Job 9:17 Hebrew “he multiplies”
- Job 9:18 Literally “return,” or “regain”
- Job 9:19 Literally “for”; see NASB, NIV, NET
- Job 9:19 Hebrew “And”
- Job 9:19 Literally “for”; NASB, NIV, NET, NRSV
- Job 9:19 Or “arraign me”
- Job 9:20 Hebrew “and”
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
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