Job 9
Job’s Reply to Bildad
1Then Job answered:23Yes, I know what you’ve said is true, but how can a person be justified before God?4
5If one wanted to take him to court, he could not answer God once in a thousand times.6
7God is wise and all-powerful. Who has opposed him and come out unharmed?8
9He removes mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his anger.10
11He shakes the earth from its place so that its pillars tremble.12
13He commands the sun not to shine and seals off the stars.14
15He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.16
17He makes the stars: the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky.18
19He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number.20
21If he passed by me, I wouldn’t see him; if he went by, I wouldn’t recognize him.22
23If he snatches something, who can stop him? Who can ask him, “What are you doing?”24
25God does not hold back his anger; Rahab’s assistants cringe in fear beneath him!26
27How then can I answer him or choose my arguments against him?28
29Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.30
31If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe he would pay attention to what I said.32
33He batters me with a whirlwind and multiplies my wounds without cause.34
35He doesn’t let me catch my breath but fills me with bitter experiences.36
37If it is a matter of strength, look, he is the powerful one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?38
39Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.40
41Though I am blameless, I no longer care about myself; I renounce my life.42
43It is all the same. Therefore I say, “He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.”44
45When catastrophe brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.46
47The earth is handed over to the wicked; he blindfolds its judges. If it isn’t he, then who is it?48
49My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good.50
51They sweep by like boats made of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.52
53If I said, “I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile,”54
55I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know you will not acquit me.56
57Since I will be found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?58
59If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,60
61then you dip me in a pit of mud, and my own clothes despise me!62
63For he is not a man like me, that I can answer him, that we can take each other to court.64
65There is no mediator between us, to lay his hand on both of us.66
67Let him take his rod away from me so his terror will no longer frighten me.68
69Then I would speak and not fear him. But that is not the case; I am on my own.70