1
Job Replies There Is No Adjudicator Then Job answered and said,
2
“In truth I know that this is so;But how can a man be in the right 9:2 Lit with before God?
3
“If one desired to contend with Him,He could not answer Him once in a thousandtimes.
4
“Wise in heart and mighty in power,Who has stiffenedhis neckagainst Him and been at peace?
5
“Godis the One who removes the mountains, they know nothow,When He overturns them in His anger;
6
The One who shakes the earth out of its place,And its pillars tremble;
7
The One who says for the sun 9:7 Lit and it does not shine not to shine,And sets a seal upon the stars;
8
Who alone stretches out the heavens,And 9:8Lit treads upon the heights of tramples down the waves of the sea;
9
Who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades,And the chambers of the south;
10
Who does great things, unsearchable,And wondrous works, innumerable.
11
“Were He to sweep by me, I would not see Him;Were He to move pastme, I would not perceive Him.
12
“Were He to snatch away, who could turn Him back?Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13
¶“God will not turn back His anger;Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.
14
“How then can I 9:14Or plead my case before answer Him,Andchoose my words 9:14Lit with before Him?
15
“For though I were right, I could not 9:15Or plead my case answer;I would have to plead for the grace of my judge.
16
“If I called and He answered me,I could not believe that He was giving ear to my voice.
17
“For He bruises me with a tempestAnd multiplies my wounds without cause.
18
“He will not allow me to get my breath,But saturates me with bitterness.
19
“Ifit is a matterof power, behold,He isthe mighty one!And ifit is a matterof justice, who can make 9:19 As in Gr; Heb me Him testify?
20
“Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;Though I am blameless, He will declare me perverse.
21
“I am blameless;I do not know my soul;I reject my life.
22
“It isallone; therefore I say,‘He consumes the blameless and the wicked.’
23
“If the scourge puts to death suddenly,He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24
“The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;He covers the faces of its judges.Ifit isnotHe, then who is it?
25
¶“Now my days are swifter than a runner;They flee away; they do not see good.
26
“They sweep by like reed boats,Like an eagle that swoops on its food.
27
“Though I say, ‘I will forget my musing,I will forsake mysadcountenance and be cheerful,’
28
I am afraid of all my pains;I know that You will not acquit me.
29
“I am accounted wicked;Why then should I toil in vain?
30
“If I should wash myself with snowAnd cleanse my hands with lye,
31
Yet You would plunge me into the pit,And my own clothes would abhor me.
32
“ForHe isnot a man as I am that I may answer Him,That we may go to courtfor judgmenttogether.
33
“There is no adjudicator between us,Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34
“Let Him remove His rod from me,And let not dread of Him terrify me.
35
“ThenI would speak and not fear Him;But I am not like that in myself.