Job 9:12-22

12 He aquí, arrebatará; ¿quién le hará restituir? ¿Quién le dirá, Qué haces?
13 Dios no tornará atrás su ira, Y debajo de él se encorvan los que ayudan á los soberbios.
14 ¿Cuánto menos le responderé yo, Y hablaré con él palabras estudiadas?
15 Que aunque fuese yo justo, no responderé; Antes habré de rogar á mi juez.
16 Que si yo le invocase, y él me respondiese, Aun no creeré que haya escuchado mi voz.
17 Porque me ha quebrado con tempestad, Y ha aumentado mis heridas sin causa.
18 No me ha concedido que tome mi aliento; Mas hame hartado de amarguras.
19 Si habláremos de su potencia, fuerte por cierto es; Si de juicio, ¿quién me emplazará?
20 Si yo me justificare, me condenará mi boca; Si me dijere perfecto, esto me hará inicuo.
21 Bien que yo fuese íntegro, no conozco mi alma: Reprocharé mi vida.
22 Una cosa resta que yo diga: Al perfecto y al impío él los consume.

Job 9:12-22 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.

The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.