Hiob 9,25 | New International Reader’s Version

Job’s reply

1 Job replied, 2 ‘I’m sure that what you have said is true. But how can human beings prove to God they are not guilty? 3 They might wish to argue with him. But they couldn’t answer him even once in a thousand times. 4 His wisdom is deep. His power is great. No one opposes him and comes away unharmed. 5 He moves mountains, and they don’t even know it. When he is angry, he turns them upside down. 6 He shakes the earth loose from its place. He makes its pillars tremble. 7 When he tells the sun not to shine, it doesn’t. He turns off the light of the stars. 8 He’s the only one who can spread out the heavens. He alone can walk on the waves of the ocean. 9 He made the Big Dipper and Orion. He created the Pleiades and the southern stars. 10 He does wonderful things that can’t be understood. He does miracles that can’t even be counted. 11 When he passes by me, I can’t see him. When he goes past me, I can’t recognise him. 12 If he takes something, who can stop him? Who would dare to ask him, “What are you doing?” 13 God doesn’t hold back his anger. Even the helpers of the sea monster Rahab bowed in fear at his feet. 14 ‘So how can I disagree with God? How can I possibly argue with him? 15 Even if I hadn’t done anything wrong, I couldn’t answer him. I could only beg my Judge to have mercy on me. 16 Suppose I called out to him and he answered. I don’t believe he’d listen to me. 17 He would send a storm to crush me. He’d increase my wounds without any reason. 18 He wouldn’t let me catch my breath. He’d make my life very bitter. 19 If it’s a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it’s a matter of being fair, who would dare to bring charges against him? 20 Even if I hadn’t sinned, what I said would prove me guilty. Even if I were honest, my words would show that I’m wrong. 21 ‘Even though I’m honest, I’m not concerned about myself. I hate my own life. 22 It all amounts to the same thing. That’s why I say, “God destroys honest people and sinful people alike.” 23 Suppose a plague brings sudden death. Then he laughs when those who haven’t sinned lose hope. 24 Suppose a nation falls into the power of sinful people. Then God makes its judges blind to the truth. If he isn’t the one doing it, who is? 25 ‘God, my days race by like a runner. They fly away without seeing any joy. 26 They speed along like papyrus boats. They are like eagles swooping down on their food. 27 Suppose I say, “I’ll forget about all my problems. I’ll change my frown into a smile.” 28 Then I’d still be afraid I’d go on suffering. That’s because I know you would say I had done something wrong. 29 In fact, you have already said I’m guilty. So why should I struggle without any reason? 30 Suppose I clean myself with soap. Suppose I wash my hands with cleanser. 31 Even then you would throw me into a muddy pit. And even my clothes would hate me. 32 ‘God isn’t a mere human being like me. I can’t answer him. We can’t take each other to court. 33 I wish someone would settle matters between us. I wish someone would bring us together. 34 I wish someone would keep God from punishing me. Then his terror wouldn’t frighten me anymore. 35 I would speak up without being afraid of him. But as things stand now, I can’t do that.

English Standard Version

Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter

1 Then Job answered and said: 2 “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? 3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. 4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?— 5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger, 6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; 7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; 8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea; 9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south; 10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number. 11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. 12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ 13 “God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab. 14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? 15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.* 16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. 17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause; 18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness. 19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?* 20 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse. 21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life. 22 It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ 23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity* of the innocent. 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges— if it is not he, who then is it? 25 “My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good. 26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey. 27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,’ 28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent. 29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain? 30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye, 31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me. 32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together. 33 There is no* arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both. 34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me. 35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.

Hiob 9,25 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

Job’s reply

Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter