Job Chapter 9 to 11 : English Standard Version   | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

Other Versions9 9:1 Then Job answered and said:

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

[1] Or to my judge  [2] Compare Septuagint; Hebrew me  [3] The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain  [4] Or Would that there were an


10 Job Continues: A Plea to God

10:1 “I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me. 3Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the designs of the wicked? 4Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees? 5Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man’s years, 6that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin, 7although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand? 8Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether. 9Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust? 10Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese? 11You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. 12You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit. 13Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose. 14If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity. 15If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction. 16And were my head lifted up,[5] you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me. 17You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me.

18“Why did you bring me out from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me 19and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave. 20Are not my days few? Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer 21before I go—and I shall not return— to the land of darkness and deep shadow, 22the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness.”

[5] Hebrew lacks my head


11Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse

11:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right? 3Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you? 4For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s[6] eyes.’ 5But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you, 6and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding.[7] Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.

7“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? 8It is higher than heaven[8]—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? 9Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. 10If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back? 11For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it? 12But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!

13“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. 14If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. 15Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. 16You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. 17And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. 18And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. 19You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor. 20But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.”

[6] Hebrew your  [7] The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain  [8] Hebrew the heights of heaven

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