| International Standard Version | Holman Christian 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? | 2Yes, I know what you've said is true, but how can a person be justified 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 wanted to take Him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times. |
| 4He is wise in heart and strong in will— who can be stubborn against him and succeed? | 4God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed Him and come out unharmed? |
| 5"He removes mountains without their knowledge, overthrowing them in his anger. | 5He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning 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 pillars tremble. |
| 7He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars. | 7He commands the sun not to shine and 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 makes the stars: the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky. |
| 10He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted. | 10He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. |
| 11"If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him. | 11If He passes by me, I wouldn't see Him; if He goes right by, I wouldn't recognize Him. |
| 12Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' | 12If He snatches something, who can stop Him? Who can ask Him, "What are You doing?" |
| 13"God doesn't restrain his anger. Rahab's assistants are humiliated under him. | 13God does not hold back His anger; Rahab's assistants cringe in fear 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. | 15Even if I were in the 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 pay attention to what I said. |
| 17For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason. | 17He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause. |
| 18He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness. | 18He doesn't let me catch my breath but soaks me with bitter experiences. |
| 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, look, He is the Mighty One! 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 in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty. |
| 21"I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life. | 21Though I am blameless, I no longer care about myself; I renounce my life. |
| 22I say it's all the same— he destroys both the blameless and the guilty. | 22It is all the same. Therefore 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 disaster 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 handed over to the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it isn't He, then who is it? |
| 25"My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good. | 25My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good. |
| 26They pass by like a ship made of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. | 26They sweep by like boats made 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 said, "I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile," |
| 28then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me. | 28I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know You will not acquit me. |
| 29I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility? | 29Since I will be 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 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 dip me in a pit of mud, and my own clothes 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, | 33There is no one to judge between us, to lay his hand on both of us. |
| 34removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me. | 34Let Him take His rod away from me so 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 and not fear Him. But that is not the case; I am on my own. |
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