Job 9:18-28

18 No me deja recobrar el aliento
sino que me llena de amargas tristezas.

19 Si es cuestión de fuerza, él es el fuerte,
y si de justicia, ¿quién se atreverá a llevarlo al tribunal?

20 Aunque soy inocente, mi boca me declararía culpable,
aunque soy intachable, la misma boca
demostraría que soy malvado.

21 »Soy inocente,
pero para mí no marca ninguna diferencia;
desprecio mi vida.

22 Inocente o perverso, para Dios es lo mismo,
por eso digo: “Él destruye tanto al intachable como al perverso”.

23 Cuando azota la plaga,
él se ríe de la muerte del inocente.

24 Toda la tierra está en manos de los malvados,
y Dios ciega los ojos de los jueces.
Si no es él quien lo hace, ¿entonces quién?

25 »Mi vida pasa más rápido que un corredor
y se va volando sin una pizca de felicidad;

26 desaparece como un barco veloz hecho de papiro,
como un águila que se lanza en picada sobre su presa.

27 Si decidiera olvidar mis quejas,
abandonar mi cara triste y alegrarme,

28 aun así le tendría pavor a todo el dolor
porque, oh Dios, sé que no me encontrarías inocente.

Job 9:18-28 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.