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14 How much less will I answer him,
    And choose my words to argue with him?
15 Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him.
    I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me,
    yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17 For he breaks me with a storm,
    and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath,
    but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty!
    If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20 Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me.
    Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.

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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.

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Footnotes

  1. 9:19 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads me.
  2. 9:20 Or he.