Job 23:13
New International Version
“But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases.

New Living Translation
But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does.

English Standard Version
But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.

Berean Standard Bible
But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

King James Bible
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

New King James Version
“But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

New American Standard Bible
“But He is unique, and who can make Him turn? Whatever His soul desires, He does it.

NASB 1995
“But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

NASB 1977
“But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

Legacy Standard Bible
But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

Amplified Bible
“But He is unique and unchangeable, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does.

Christian Standard Bible
But he is unchangeable; who can oppose him? He does what he desires.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

American Standard Version
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And in what one of these will he return to me, for his soul delights and he does it?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed a thing and done it.

Contemporary English Version
But he alone is God, and who can oppose him? God does as he pleases,

Douay-Rheims Bible
For he is alone, and no man can turn away his thought: and whatsoever is soul hath desired, that hath he done.

English Revised Version
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"But God is one of a kind. Who can make him change his mind? He does whatever he wants!

Good News Translation
He never changes. No one can oppose him or stop him from doing what he wants to do.

International Standard Version
"But he is One—who can change him? He does whatever he wants to do.

JPS Tanakh 1917
But He is at one with Himself, and who can turn Him? And what His soul desireth, even that He doeth.

Literal Standard Version
And He [is] in one [mind], | And who turns Him back? And His soul has desired—and He does [it].

Majority Standard Bible
But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.

New American Bible
But once he decides, who can contradict him? What he desires, that he does.

NET Bible
But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does.

New Revised Standard Version
But he stands alone and who can dissuade him? What he desires, that he does.

New Heart English Bible
But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

Webster's Bible Translation
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

World English Bible
But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.

Young's Literal Translation
And He is in one mind, And who doth turn Him back? And His soul hath desired -- and He doth it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job Longs for God
12I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread. 13But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires. 14For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.…

Cross References
Job 10:7
though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand?

Job 10:13
Yet You concealed these things in Your heart, and I know that this was in Your mind:

Job 23:12
I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.

Job 23:14
For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.

Isaiah 14:24
The LORD of Hosts has sworn: "Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.


Treasury of Scripture

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desires, even that he does.

who can

Job 9:12,13
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? …

Job 11:10
If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

Job 12:14
Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

and what

Psalm 115:3
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Psalm 135:6
Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

Proverbs 19:21
There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

Jump to Previous
Alone Changing Desire Desired Desires Desireth Effect Fixed Gives Mind Oppose Pleases Purpose Soul Stands Turn Unchangeable Unique Whatever
Jump to Next
Alone Changing Desire Desired Desires Desireth Effect Fixed Gives Mind Oppose Pleases Purpose Soul Stands Turn Unchangeable Unique Whatever
Job 23
1. Job longs to appear before God
6. in confidence of his mercy
8. God, who is invisible, observes our ways
11. Job's innocence
13. God's decree is immutable














(13) He is one, or in one.--Job either declares His unique sovereignty or His unchangeable purpose. The context seems to support the latter, in which case the sense given by the Authorised Version is correct.

Verse 13. - But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? Once more we hear the voice of complaint. The happier tone of thought which extends from ver. 6 to ver. 12 grows out of a sanguine hope on Job's part that God will bring him before his tribunal, and judge his cause according to righteousness. Now he bethinks himself that hitherto God, notwithstanding his prayers, has refused to summon him to his judgment-seat, and begins to fear that there is no likelihood of his changing. "He is One," or "in one." With him is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17). How is it likely that he will act in the future otherwise than he has acts! in the past? What his soul desireth, even that he doeth. A somewhat harsh way of saying that God doeth that which seemeth him best - and which, therefore, is best. Job does not really suppose that God is actuated by caprice or favouritism.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But He is unchangeable,
וְה֣וּא (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

and who
וּמִ֣י (ū·mî)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

can oppose Him?
יְשִׁיבֶ֑נּוּ (yə·šî·ḇen·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

He does
וַיָּֽעַשׂ׃ (way·yā·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

what He
וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ (wə·nap̄·šōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

desires.
אִוְּתָ֣ה (’iw·wə·ṯāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 183: To incline, desire


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OT Poetry: Job 23:13 But he stands alone and who can (Jb)
Job 23:12
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