Job 9 (New International Version)

Job

1 Then Job replied: 2 "Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?¹ 3 Though one wished to dispute with him,² he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.³ 4 His wisdom⁴ is profound, his power is vast.⁵ Who has resisted⁶ him and come out unscathed?⁷ 5 He moves mountains⁸ without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.⁹ 6 He shakes the earth¹⁰ from its place and makes its pillars tremble.¹¹ 7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;¹² he seals off the light of the stars.¹³ 8 He alone stretches out the heavens¹⁴ and treads on the waves of the sea.¹⁵ 9 He is the Maker¹⁶ of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.¹⁷ 10 He performs wonders¹⁸ that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.¹⁹ 11 When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.²⁰ 12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?²¹ Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'²² 13 God does not restrain his anger;²³ even the cohorts of Rahab²⁴ cowered at his feet. 14 "How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?²⁵ 15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;²⁶ I could only plead²⁷ with my Judge²⁸ for mercy.²⁹ 16 Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.³⁰ 17 He would crush me³¹ with a storm³² and multiply³³ my wounds for no reason.³⁴ 18 He would not let me regain my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.³⁵ 19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!³⁶ And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him^a ?³⁷ 20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.³⁸ 21 "Although I am blameless,³⁹ I have no concern for myself;⁴⁰ I despise my own life.⁴¹ 22 It is all the same; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'⁴² 23 When a scourge⁴³ brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.⁴⁴ 24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,⁴⁵ he blindfolds its judges.⁴⁶ If it is not he, then who is it?⁴⁷ 25 "My days are swifter than a runner;⁴⁸ they fly away without a glimpse of joy.⁴⁹ 26 They skim past⁵⁰ like boats of papyrus,⁵¹ like eagles swooping down on their prey.⁵² 27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint,⁵³ I will change my expression, and smile,' 28 I still dread⁵⁴ all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.⁵⁵ 29 Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?⁵⁶ 30 Even if I washed myself with soap^b57 and my hands⁵⁸ with washing soda,⁵⁹ 31 you would plunge me into a slime pit⁶⁰ so that even my clothes would detest me.⁶¹ 32 "He is not a man⁶² like me that I might answer him,⁶³ that we might confront each other in court.⁶⁴ 33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us,⁶⁵ to lay his hand upon us both,⁶⁶ 34 someone to remove God's rod from me,⁶⁷ so that his terror would frighten me no more.⁶⁸ 35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,⁶⁹ but as it now stands with me, I cannot.⁷⁰