Job 9:23-35
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 9
23If the whip kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent. 24The earth is handed over to the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it? 25'Now my days are swifter than a runner; They flee away, they see no good. 26They slip by like reed boats, Like an eagle that swoops on its prey. 27Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put my face in order and be cheerful,’ 28I am afraid of all my pains, I know that You will not acquit me. 29I am guilty, Why then should I struggle in vain? 30If I washed myself with snow, And cleansed my hands with lye, 31Then You would plunge me into the pit, And my own clothes would loathe me. 32For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him— That we may go to court together! 33There is no arbitrator between us, Who can place his hand upon us both. 34Let Him remove His rod from me, And let not the dread of Him terrify me. 35 Then I would speak and not fear Him; But I am not like that in myself.King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
24The earth is handed over to the wicked; he blindfolds its judges. If it isn’t he, then who is it?
25My days fly by faster than a runner; they flee without seeing any good.
26They sweep by like boats made of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27If I said, "I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile,"
28I would still live in terror of all my pains. I know you will not acquit me.
29Since I will be found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
30If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31then you dip me in a pit of mud, and my own clothes despise me!
32For he is not a man like me, that I can answer him, that we can take each other to court.
33There is no mediator between us, to lay his hand on both of us.
34Let him take his rod away from me so his terror will no longer frighten me.
35Then I would speak and not fear him. But that is not the case; I am on my own.
New Living Translation
Chapter 9
23When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent. 24The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is?
25'My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.
26It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful,
28I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.
29Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what’s the use of trying?
30Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye,
31you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.
32'God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.
33If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.
34The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.
35Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.
English Standard Version
Chapter 9
23When 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. 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. 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. 35Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.New International Version
24When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
25"My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
26They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
27If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’
28I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
30Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder,
31you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
32"He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
33If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together,
34someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
New King James Version
