New International Version | Christian Standard Bible |
1Then Job replied: | 1Then Job answered: |
2"Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? | 2Yes, I know what you've said is true, but how can a person be justified before God? |
3Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. | 3If one wanted to take him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times. |
4His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? | 4God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed him and come out unharmed? |
5He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. | 5He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his anger. |
6He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. | 6He shakes the earth from its place so that its pillars tremble. |
7He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. | 7He commands the sun not to shine and seals off the stars. |
8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. | 8He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. |
9He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. | 9He makes the stars: the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky. |
10He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. | 10He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. |
11When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. | 11If he passed by me, I wouldn't see him; if he went by, I wouldn't recognize him. |
12If he snatches away, who can stop 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?" |
13God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet. | 13God does not hold back his anger; Rahab's assistants cringe in fear beneath him! |
14"How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? | 14How then can I answer him or choose my arguments against him? |
15Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. | 15Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. |
16Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. | 16If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe he would pay attention to what I said. |
17He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. | 17He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause. |
18He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. | 18He doesn't let me catch my breath but fills me with bitter experiences. |
19If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? | 19If it is a matter of strength, look, he is the powerful one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? |
20Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me 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"Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. | 21Though I am blameless, I no longer care about myself; I renounce my life. |
22It is all the same; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.' | 22It is all the same. Therefore I say, "He destroys both the blameless and the wicked." |
23When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. | 23When catastrophe brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. |
24When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, 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 are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. | 25My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good. |
26They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey. | 26They sweep by like boats made of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. |
27If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,' | 27If I said, "I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile," |
28I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent. | 28I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know you will not acquit me. |
29Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain? | 29Since I will be found guilty, why should I struggle in vain? |
30Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder, | 30If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye, |
31you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me. | 31then you dip me in a pit of mud, and my own clothes despise me! |
32"He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. | 32For he is not a man like me, that I can answer him, that we can take each other to court. |
33If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, | 33There is no mediator between us, to lay his hand on both of us. |
34someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. | 34Let him take his rod away from me so his terror will no longer frighten me. |
35Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot. | 35Then I would speak and not fear him. But that is not the case; I am on my own. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
|