Job 9:19

19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him^[a] ?

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Job 9:19 in Other Translations

KJV

19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

ESV

19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?

NLT

19 If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?

MSG

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?

CSB

19 If it is a matter of strength, look, He is the Mighty One! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

Job 9:19 Meaning and Commentary

Job 9:19

If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong
Or think of it, or betake myself to that, and propose to carry my point by mere force, as some men do by dint of power and authority they are possessed of; alas! there is nothing to be done this way; I am a poor, weak, feeble creature in body, mind, and estate; I am not able to contend with so powerful an antagonist on any account, in any way: God is strong, he is the "most strong" ^F23, as some render it; he is mighty, is the Almighty; the weakness of God is stronger than men; there is no disputing with God upon the foot of strength:

and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?
If I think and propose to put things upon the foot of justice, to have the cause between us issued in that way, I cannot expect to succeed by right, any more than by might; he is so strictly just and holy, that no righteousness and holiness of, mine can stand before him; he is God, and I a man, and therefore not fit to come together in judgment; and he a pure and holy Being, just and true, and without iniquity, and I a sinful polluted creature; and besides, there is none superior to him, that I can appeal unto, none that can appoint a place, or fix a time, for the hearing of the cause between us, or that can preside in judgment and determine the matter in controversy; nay, there is not one among the creatures that can be a daysman, an arbiter or umpire; yea not one that can be so much as employed as council, that can take the cause in hand, and plead it, and be a patron for me, and defender of me; so that, let me take what course I will, I am sure to be nonsuited and worsted, see ( Jeremiah 49:19 ) .

FOOTNOTES:

F23 (Uyma) "robustissimus est", V. L.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible