King James Bible

International Standard Version

1Then Job answered and said,

1This was Job's response:

2I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

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

3If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

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

4He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

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

5Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

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

6Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

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

7Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

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

8Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

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

9Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

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

10Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

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

11Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

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

12Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

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

13If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

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

14How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

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

15Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

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

16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

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.

17For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

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

18He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

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

19If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

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

20If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

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

21Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

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

22This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

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

23If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

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

24The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

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?"

25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

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

26They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

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

27If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

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

28I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

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

29If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

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

30If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

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

31Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

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

32For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

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

33Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

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

34Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

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

35Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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