International Standard Version

Berean Standard Bible

1This was Job's response:

1Then Job answered:

2"Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?

2“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

3If one were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.

3If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.

4He is wise in heart and strong in will— who can be stubborn against him and succeed?

4God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?

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

5He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.

6He shakes the earth from its orbit, so that its foundations shudder.

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

7He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars.

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

8He alone spreads out the heavens, he walks on the waves of the sea.

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

9He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the southern constellations.

9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.

10He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.

10He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.

11"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him.

11Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.

12Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'

12If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’

13"God doesn't restrain his anger. Rahab's assistants are humiliated under him.

13God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.

14So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him?

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

15Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.

15For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

16"Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me, I wouldn't even believe that he was listening to what I have to say.

16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.

17For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason.

17For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.

18He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness.

18He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.

19"Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?

19If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

20Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty.

20Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.

21"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life.

21Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.

22I say it's all the same— he destroys both the blameless and the guilty.

22It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23If a calamity causes sudden death, he'll mock at the despair of the innocent.

23When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.

24A land is given into the hands of a wicked person; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not God, then who is it?"

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?

25"My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.

25My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.

26They pass by like a ship made of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

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

27If I were to say, 'Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,

27If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’

28then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me.

28I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.

29I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility?

29Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?

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

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

31you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me.

31then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.

32He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another.

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

33There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us,

33Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.

34removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.

34Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.

35Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself."

35Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.