Job 9:14-20
New American Standard Bible
14 How then can (A)I [a]answer Him,
And choose my words [b]before Him?
15 For (B)though I were right, I could not [c]answer;
I would have to (C)implore the mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17 For He (D)bruises me with a storm
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will (E)not allow me to get my breath,
But He saturates me with (F)bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of power, (G)behold, He is the strong one!
And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon [d]Him?
20 (H)Though I am righteous, my mouth will (I)condemn me;
Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
Job 9:14-20
International Standard Version
14 So how am I to answer him,
choosing what I am to say to him?
15 Even if I’m in the right,
I cannot answer him.
I can only appeal for mercy.
16 “Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me,
I wouldn’t even believe
that he was listening to what I have to say.[a]
17 For he crushes me with a storm,
and keeps on wounding me for no reason.
18 He won’t let me catch my breath;
instead, he fills me with bitterness.
19 “Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger!
Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?
20 Though I’m in the right, my own mouth will condemn me;
though I’m blameless, he’ll pronounce me as guilty.
Footnotes
- Job 9:16 Lit. to my voice
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
