25 “My days are swifter than a runner;(A)
    they fly away without a glimpse of joy.(B)
26 They skim past(C) like boats of papyrus,(D)
    like eagles swooping down on their prey.(E)
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,(F)
    I will change my expression, and smile,’
28 I still dread(G) all my sufferings,
    for I know you will not hold me innocent.(H)
29 Since I am already found guilty,
    why should I struggle in vain?(I)
30 Even if I washed myself with soap(J)
    and my hands(K) with cleansing powder,(L)
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit(M)
    so that even my clothes would detest me.(N)

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Job Argues that God Won’t Acquit Him

25 “My days pass faster than a runner;
    but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.
26 They pass by like a ship made of reeds,
    like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I were to say, ‘Let me forget my complaint,’
    change[a] the expression on[b] my face, and look cheerful,
28 then I still dread all of my suffering;
    I know you still won’t acquit me.
29 I will be condemned,
    so why should I wear myself out with this futility?

30 “If I wash myself with water from snow,
    and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 you’ll still drop me into the Pit,[c]
    and my own clothes will despise me.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 9:27 Lit. forsake
  2. Job 9:27 The Heb. lacks the expression on
  3. Job 9:31 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife