Job 9:7-17

7 He tells the sun, 'Don't shine,' and it doesn't; he pulls the blinds on the stars.
8 All by himself he stretches out the heavens and strides on the waves of the sea.
9 He designed the Big Dipper and Orion, the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri.
10 We'll never comprehend all the great things he does; his miracle-surprises can't be counted.
11 Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don't see him; quietly but surely he's active, and I miss it.
12 If he steals you blind, who can stop him? Who's going to say, 'Hey, what are you doing?'
13 God doesn't hold back on his anger; even dragon-bred monsters cringe before him.
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.

Job 9:7-17 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.