Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1Then Job answered:

1Then Job answered and said:

2Yes, I know what you've said is true, but how can a person be justified before God?

2“Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?

3If one wanted to take him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times.

3If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.

4God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed him and come out unharmed?

4He is wise in heart and mighty in strength—who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—

5He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his anger.

5he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,

6He shakes the earth from its place so that its pillars tremble.

6who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;

7He commands the sun not to shine and seals off the stars.

7who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;

8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

8who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;

9He makes the stars: the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky.

9who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;

10He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.

10who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number.

11If he passed by me, I wouldn't see him; if he went by, I wouldn't recognize him.

11Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.

12If he snatches something, who can stop him? Who can ask him, "What are you doing?"

12Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

13God does not hold back his anger; Rahab's assistants cringe in fear beneath him!

13“God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.

14How then can I answer him or choose my arguments against him?

14How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?

15Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

15Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.

16If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe he would pay attention to what I said.

16If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.

17He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause.

17For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;

18He doesn't let me catch my breath but fills me with bitter experiences.

18he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.

19If it is a matter of strength, look, he is the powerful one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?

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

20Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.

20Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.

21Though I am blameless, I no longer care about myself; I renounce my life.

21I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.

22It is all the same. Therefore I say, "He destroys both the blameless and the wicked."

22It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23When catastrophe brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.

23When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.

24The earth is handed over to the wicked; he blindfolds its judges. If it isn't he, then who is it?

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it?

25My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good.

25“My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good.

26They sweep by like boats made of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

26They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.

27If I said, "I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile,"

27If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,’

28I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know you will not acquit me.

28I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.

29Since I will be found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?

29I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?

30If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

30If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,

31then you dip me in a pit of mud, and my own clothes despise me!

31yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.

32For he is not a man like me, that I can answer him, that we can take each other to court.

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.

33There is no mediator between us, to lay his hand on both of us.

33There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.

34Let him take his rod away from me so his terror will no longer frighten me.

34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.

35Then I would speak and not fear him. But that is not the case; I am on my own.

35Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.