Job 9:14-20
New Living Translation
14 “So who am I, that I should try to answer God
or even reason with him?
15 Even if I were right, I would have no defense.
I could only plead for mercy.
16 And even if I summoned him and he responded,
I’m not sure he would listen to me.
17 For he attacks me with a storm
and repeatedly wounds me without cause.
18 He will not let me catch my breath,
but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.
19 If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one.
If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him[a] to court?
20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.
Though I am blameless, it[b] would prove me wicked.
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”
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