Job 9:14-24

14 "So how could I ever argue with him, construct a defense that would influence God?
15 Even though I'm innocent I could never prove it; I can only throw myself on the Judge's mercy.
16 If I called on God and he himself answered me, then, and only then, would I believe that he'd heard me.
17 As it is, he knocks me about from pillar to post, beating me up, black and blue, for no good reason.
18 He won't even let me catch my breath, piles bitterness upon bitterness.
19 If it's a question of who's stronger, he wins, hands down! If it's a question of justice, who'll serve him the subpoena?
20 Even though innocent, anything I say incriminates me; blameless as I am, my defense just makes me sound worse. If God's Not Responsible, Who Is?
21 "Believe me, I'm blameless. I don't understand what's going on. I hate my life!
22 Since either way it ends up the same, I can only conclude that God destroys the good right along with the bad.
23 When calamity hits and brings sudden death, he folds his arms, aloof from the despair of the innocent.
24 He lets the wicked take over running the world, he installs judges who can't tell right from wrong. If he's not responsible, who is?

Job 9:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 9

This and the following chapter contain Job's answer to Bildad, and in this he asserts the strict justice at God; which is such, that no man can be just in his sight, not being able to answer to one charge, or for one sin, of a thousand he is guilty of, Job 9:1-3; and that such are his wisdom and power, that the most daring man cannot expect to succeed in an opposition to him, Job 9:4; instances are given of his power in the works of nature and providence, Job 9:5-10; notice is taken of the imperceptibleness of his actions and motions, and of his sovereignty in all his ways, Job 9:11,12; and of his fierce wrath and anger, which is such as obliges the proudest of men to stoop under him; and therefore Job chose not to contend in a judicial way with him, but in a suppliant manner would entreat him, since his hand was so heavy upon him, Job 9:13-21; he affirms, in direct opposition to Bildad and his friends, and insists upon it, that God afflicts both the righteous and the wicked; yea, gives the earth to the latter when he slays the former, Job 9:22-24; he then observes the shortness of his days, and complains of his heavy afflictions, Job 9:25-28; and concludes, that it was in vain for him to expect his cause to be heard before God, there being no daysman between them; and wishes that the dread of the Divine Majesty might be taken from him, and then he would freely and without fear speak unto him, Job 9:29-35.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.