King James Version KJV
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 Then Job answered and said,
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Then Iyov responded:
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
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"Indeed, I know that this is so; but how can a human win a case against God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
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Whoever might want to argue with him could not answer him one [question] in a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
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His heart is so wise, his strength so great -who can resist him and succeed?
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
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"He moves the mountains, although they don't know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
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He shakes the earth from its place; its supporting pillars tremble.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
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He commands the sun, and it fails to rise; he shuts up the stars under his seal.
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
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He alone spreads out the sky and walks on the waves in the sea.
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
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He made the Great Bear, Orion, the Pleiades and the hidden constellations of the south.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
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He does great, unsearchable things, wonders beyond counting.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
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He can go right by me, and I don't see him; he moves past without my being aware of him.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
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If he kills [people], who will ask why? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
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God will not withdraw his anger -even Rahav's supporters submit to him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
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"How much less can I answer him and select my arguments against him!
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
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Even if I were right, I wouldn't answer; I could only ask for mercy from my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
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If I summoned him, and he answered me, I still can't believe he would listen to my plea.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
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He could break me with a storm; he could multiply my wounds for no reason,
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
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to the point where I couldn't even breathe -with such bitterness he could fill me!
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
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If it's a matter of force, look how mighty he is; if justice, who can summon him to court?
20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
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Even if I'm right, my own mouth will condemn me; if I'm innocent, it would pronounce me guilty.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
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"I am innocent. Don't I know myself? But I've had enough of this life of mine!
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
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So I say it's all the same -he destroys innocent and wicked alike.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
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When disaster brings sudden death, he laughs at the plight of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
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The earth has been given to the power of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges -if it isn't he, then who is it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
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My days pass on more swiftly than a runner; they flee without seeing anything good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
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They skim by like skiffs built of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
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"If I say, 'I'll forget my complaining, I'll put off my sad face and be cheerful,'
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
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then I'm still afraid of all my pain, and I know you will not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
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I will be condemned, so why waste my efforts?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
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Even if I washed myself in melted snow and cleansed my hands with lye,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
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you would plunge me into the muddy pit, till my own clothes would detest me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
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"For he is not merely human like me; there is no answer that I could give him if we were to come together in court.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
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There is no arbitrator between us who could lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
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If he would remove his rod from me and not let his terrors frighten me,
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
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then I would speak without fear of him; for when I'm alone, I'm not afraid.