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Job 9

Job replies to Bildad

9 Then Job replied. This is what he said:

2 ‘The things that you have said are true.
But nobody can show God that he is completely good.
3 It is not possible to argue with God.
God can ask 1,000 questions that we cannot answer.
4 God is very wise and he is very powerful.
It is impossible to argue against him and win.
5 He has the power to move mountains suddenly.
When he is angry he can knock them down.
6 He shakes the earth,
to move it from its proper place.
The foundations of the earth shake!
7 He may command the sun not to shine during the day.
He may stop the stars shining at night.
8 God alone put the whole sky in its place.
He marches over the waves of the sea.
9 He put the groups of stars in their places.
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades. [ a ]
He put the groups of stars in the southern sky.
10 He does great things that we cannot understand.
He does more wonderful things than we can count.
11 When God passes in front of me,
I do not see him.
If he moves further away,
I do not see where he has gone.
12 If God decides to take something,
nobody can stop him.
Nobody can ask him, “What are you doing?”
13 If God is angry, he will not stop.
He destroys Rahab and the other monsters of the sea. [ b ]

14 So I can never give an answer to God.
There are no words that I can use to argue with him.
15 Even if I am completely right,
I cannot answer him.
He is my judge.
I can only ask him to be kind to me.
16 He might agree to meet with me in court.
But I do not believe that he would listen to me.
17 He would attack me with a strong storm.
He would hurt me even more, for no reason.
18 He would not allow me to breathe quietly.
Instead, he would make me very upset.
19 If I tried to fight God,
he is much stronger than I am.
And if I ask for justice,
who can bring God to court?
20 I am right. I have not done anything that is wrong.
But my words would say that I am guilty.
21 I have not done anything that is wrong.
But it does not matter what happens to me.
My life is not important to me.
22 The same thing happens to good people and to wicked people.
So I say, “God destroys people who are not guilty
as well as those who are guilty.”
23 When disease comes, people may die suddenly.
God laughs at good people who suffer like that.
24 A wicked man may have power to rule a nation.
Then God stops the judges from being fair.
It must be God who does that.
Who else could it be?

25 The days of my life are passing very quickly,
like a fast runner.
None of my days makes me happy.
26 My days go past like a fast boat on a river.
They move quickly like an eagle
when it flies down to catch its food.
27 I may try to be happy and to smile.
I may try to forget about my troubles.
28 Even then, I will be afraid of all my pain.
God, I know that you think I am guilty.
29 So, if I am guilty,
it is useless to do anything about it.
30 I might wash myself with pure water.
I might clean my hands with soap.
31 But then God would throw me down into a dirty hole.
Even my own clothes would be ashamed of me!

32 God is not a human, as I am.
So I cannot answer him.
We cannot argue with each other in court.
33 There is nobody who can decide which of us is right.
Nobody has authority to judge both of us.
34 Nobody can stop God from punishing me.
If that were possible, I would not be afraid any more.
35 I would speak to God and I would not be afraid.
But now I cannot do that.

Footnotes

  1. 9:9 The Bear, Orion and the Pleiades are the names of three groups of stars.
  2. 9:13 See Isaiah 51:9 . Rahab was the name of a great sea monster.

Job Answers Bildad

9 Then Job answered:

2 “Of course, I know that this is true.
But how can a human being win an argument with God?
3 Anyone who chose to argue with him
could not answer one question in a thousand!
4 God is so wise and powerful that
no one could oppose him and survive.
5 When God is angry, he moves mountains before they know what happened.
6 He can shake the earth,
and it will tremble down to its foundations.
7 With one command he can stop the sun from rising.
He can lock up the stars and keep them from shining.
8 He alone made the skies,
and he walks on the ocean waves.

9 “God made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades. [ a ]
He made the planets that cross the southern sky. [ b ]
10 He does things too marvelous for people to understand.
He does too many miracles to count!
11 When he passes by, I cannot see him.
He goes right past me, and I don’t notice.
12 If he takes something away, no one can stop him.
No one can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God will not hold back his anger.
Even Rahab’s helpers are afraid of him.
14 So I cannot argue with God.
I would not know what to say to him.
15 I am innocent, but I cannot give him an answer.
All I can do is beg my Judge for mercy.
16 Even if I called and he answered,
I cannot believe he would listen to me.
17 He would just send storms to crush me.
He would give me more wounds for no reason.
18 He would not let me catch my breath again.
He would just give me more trouble.
19 I cannot defeat God.
He is too powerful!
I cannot take him to court for justice.
Who could force him to come?
20 I am innocent, but anything I say makes me seem guilty.
I am innocent, but if I speak, my mouth proves me wrong.
21 I am innocent, but I don’t know what to think.
I hate my own life.
22 So I say, ‘Does it make any difference?
God destroys the innocent as well as the guilty.’
23 Is it God who laughs when a disaster kills innocent people?
24 Is it God who keeps the leaders from seeing when an evil person takes control?
If it is not God, then who is it?

25 “My days are passing faster than a runner.
They are flying by without any joy.
26 They go by as quickly as papyrus boats,
as fast as an eagle swooping down on its prey.

27 “I could say, ‘I will not complain.
I will forget my pain and put a smile on my face.’
28 But the suffering still frightens me.
I know that God will not see me as innocent.
29 I will be found guilty,
so why should I even think about it?
30 Even if I scrubbed my hands with soap
and washed myself whiter than snow,
31 God would still push me into the slime pit, [ c ]
and even my clothes would hate to touch me.
32 God is not a human like me, so I cannot argue with him.
I cannot take him to court.
33 I wish there were someone who could listen to both sides, [ d ]
someone to judge both of us in a fair way.
34 I wish someone could take away the threat of God’s punishment.
Then he would not frighten me anymore.
35 Then I could say what I want without being afraid of him.
But I cannot do that now.

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:9 Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades Names of well-known constellations (groups of stars) in the night sky.
  2. Job 9:9 planets … sky Literally, “Rooms of the South” or “Rooms of Teman.” This might be the planets or the twelve constellations of the Zodiac. North of the equator, these seem to move across the southern sky.
  3. Job 9:31 slime pit The grave, a place where bodies rot.
  4. Job 9:33 someone … sides Literally, “a mediator” or “an umpire.”

9 Then Job answered and said,

2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

Job Says There Is No Arbitrator between God and Mankind

9 Then Job responded,

2 “In truth I know that this is so;
But how can a ( A ) person be in the right with God?
3 If one wished to ( B ) dispute with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times .
4 ( C ) Wise in heart and ( D ) mighty in strength,
Who has [ a ] ( E ) defied Him [ b ] without harm?
5 ( F ) It is God who removes the mountains, and they do not know how ,
When He overturns them in His anger.
6 It is He who ( G ) shakes the earth from its place,
And its ( H ) pillars tremble;
7 Who commands the ( I ) sun [ c ] not to shine,
And puts a seal on the stars;
8 Who alone ( J ) stretches out the heavens,
And [ d ] ( K ) tramples down the waves of the sea;
9 Who makes the ( L ) Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,
And the [ e ] ( M ) constellations of the south.
10 It is He who ( N ) does great things, [ f ] the unfathomable,
And wondrous works without number.
11 If He were to pass by me, ( O ) I would not see Him ;
Were He to move past me , I would not perceive Him.
12 If He were to snatch away, who could ( P ) restrain Him?
Who could say to Him, ‘ ( Q ) What are You doing?’

13 “God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him the helpers of [ g ] ( R ) Rahab cower.
14 How then can ( S ) I [ h ] answer Him,
And choose my words [ i ] before Him?
15 For ( T ) though I were right, I could not [ j ] answer;
I would have to ( U ) 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 ( V ) bruises me with a storm
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will ( W ) not allow me to get my breath,
But He saturates me with ( X ) bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of power, ( Y ) behold, He is the strong one!
And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon [ k ] Him?
20 ( Z ) Though I am righteous, my mouth will ( AA ) condemn me;
Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
21 I am ( AB ) guiltless;
I do not take notice of myself;
I ( AC ) reject my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He ( AD ) destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
23 If the whip kills suddenly,
He ( AE ) mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth ( AF ) is handed over to the wicked;
He ( AG ) covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He , then who is it?

25 “Now ( AH ) my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, ( AI ) they see no good.
26 They slip by like ( AJ ) reed boats,
Like an ( AK ) eagle that swoops on [ l ] its prey.
27 Though I say, ‘I will forget ( AL ) my complaint,
I will [ m ] put my face in order and be cheerful,’
28 I am ( AM ) afraid of all my pains,
I know that ( AN ) You will not acquit me.
29 I am ( AO ) guilty,
Why then should I struggle in vain?
30 If I ( AP ) washed myself with snow,
And cleansed ( AQ ) my hands with lye,
31 Then You would plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would loathe me.
32 For ( AR ) He is not a man, as I am, that ( AS ) I may answer Him—
That we may go to [ n ] court together!
33 There is no ( AT ) arbitrator between us,
Who can place his hand upon us both.
34 Let Him ( AU ) remove His rod from me,
And let not the dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I ( AV ) would speak and not fear Him;
But I am not like that in myself.

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:4 Lit stiffened his neck against
  2. Job 9:4 Lit and remained safe
  3. Job 9:7 Lit and it does not shine
  4. Job 9:8 Lit treads upon the heights of
  5. Job 9:9 Lit chambers
  6. Job 9:10 Lit until there is no searching out
  7. Job 9:13 I.e., a sea monster, not to be confused with Rahab in Joshua 2
  8. Job 9:14 Or plead my case
  9. Job 9:14 Lit with
  10. Job 9:15 Or plead my case
  11. Job 9:19 As in LXX; Heb me
  12. Job 9:26 Lit food
  13. Job 9:27 I.e., improve the look
  14. Job 9:32 Lit judgment

Job

9 Then Job replied:

2 “Indeed, I know that this is true.
But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? ( A )
3 Though they wished to dispute with him, ( B )
they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. ( C )
4 His wisdom ( D ) is profound, his power is vast. ( E )
Who has resisted ( F ) him and come out unscathed? ( G )
5 He moves mountains ( H ) without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger. ( I )
6 He shakes the earth ( J ) from its place
and makes its pillars tremble. ( K )
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; ( L )
he seals off the light of the stars. ( M )
8 He alone stretches out the heavens ( N )
and treads on the waves of the sea. ( O )
9 He is the Maker ( P ) of the Bear [ a ] and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. ( Q )
10 He performs wonders ( R ) that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted. ( S )
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. ( T )
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him? ( U )
Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ ( V )
13 God does not restrain his anger; ( W )
even the cohorts of Rahab ( X ) cowered at his feet.

14 “How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him? ( Y )
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; ( Z )
I could only plead ( AA ) with my Judge ( AB ) for mercy. ( AC )
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing. ( AD )
17 He would crush me ( AE ) with a storm ( AF )
and multiply ( AG ) my wounds for no reason. ( AH )
18 He would not let me catch my breath
but would overwhelm me with misery. ( AI )
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! ( AJ )
And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him [ b ] ? ( AK )
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty. ( AL )

21 “Although I am blameless, ( AM )
I have no concern for myself; ( AN )
I despise my own life. ( AO )
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ ( AP )
23 When a scourge ( AQ ) brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent. ( AR )
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, ( AS )
he blindfolds its judges. ( AT )
If it is not he, then who is it? ( AU )

25 “My days are swifter than a runner; ( AV )
they fly away without a glimpse of joy. ( AW )
26 They skim past ( AX ) like boats of papyrus, ( AY )
like eagles swooping down on their prey. ( AZ )
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, ( BA )
I will change my expression, and smile,’
28 I still dread ( BB ) all my sufferings,
for I know you will not hold me innocent. ( BC )
29 Since I am already found guilty,
why should I struggle in vain? ( BD )
30 Even if I washed myself with soap ( BE )
and my hands ( BF ) with cleansing powder, ( BG )
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit ( BH )
so that even my clothes would detest me. ( BI )

32 “He is not a mere mortal ( BJ ) like me that I might answer him, ( BK )
that we might confront each other in court. ( BL )
33 If only there were someone to mediate between us, ( BM )
someone to bring us together, ( BN )
34 someone to remove God’s rod from me, ( BO )
so that his terror would frighten me no more. ( BP )
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him, ( BQ )
but as it now stands with me, I cannot. ( BR )

Footnotes

  1. Job 9:9 Or of Leo
  2. Job 9:19 See Septuagint; Hebrew me.
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