Job 9

1 Then Job [the patriarch famous for his patience] answered [replied, made a response, and said] [to dwell, to respond]: word study 2 “Yes, I know [truly, surely, with certainty] that it is so, but how [what, in what way] can a mortal [human, enosh, a human being] be righteous [just, justified, made right] before [in the presence of, with] God [El, the all-powerful, strength and power]? word study 3 If one wished [desired, chose] to contend [strive, argue] with God [the Almighty, Creator], he could not [would be unable] answer Him [respond, reply] one time [occasion, instance] out of a thousand [a multitude, many]. word study 4 God [the supreme Almighty] is wise [intelligent, skilled, or prudent] in heart [the innermost part of a person, including mind, will, and emotions] and mighty [strong, courageous, or powerful] in strength [power or might, referring to God’s ability]. Who [which person] has resisted [hardened himself against, or challenged] Him [the Lord, or God] and prospered [been at peace, or had good come of it]? word study 5 He [the Almighty, All-Powerful] moves [removes, proceeds] mountains [hills] without [not, lacking] their knowledge [awareness, understanding] and overturns [turns upside down, transforms] them in His [divine, holy] anger [wrath]. word study 6 He shakes [removes, sends earthquakes to] the earth [land, ground, territory] from its place [location, position], so that its foundations [pillars, supports] tremble [shudder, quake, are frightened]. word study 7 He [speaking to, commanding] commands [gives orders to, speaks to] the sun [referring to the celestial body] not [indicating absence or negation] to shine [to rise, come up]; He [as the supreme authority] seals [closes, locks] off [shuts up, prevents from shining] the stars [celestial bodies, princes or leaders]. word study 8 He [by Himself] alone stretches out [spreads out, expands] the heavens [the visible universe, sky] and treads [walks, steps] on the waves [heights, surface] of the sea [a large body of water]. word study 9 He is the Maker [Creator, One who forms] of the Bear [Arcturus, Ursa Major] and Orion [a constellation], of the Pleiades [a cluster of seven stars] and the constellations [chambers, store-houses] of the south [southern sky, southern direction]. word study 10 He does [incredible, marvelous, beyond understanding] great things [past finding out, unsearchable] beyond [till there is no] searching out, and [marvelous things, wonderful works] wonders [marvelous, past counting] without number. word study 11 Were He [the Almighty, God] to pass by [go past, cross over] me, I would not see [perceive, discern] Him; were He to move [pass on, transition], I would not recognize [understand, acknowledge] Him. word study 12 If He takes away [snatches, seizes], who [what person, no one] can stop Him [hinder, prevent]? Who [what person, dare anyone] dares to ask Him [say unto, speak to], ‘What [how, why] are You doing [making, acting]?’ word study 13 God [the one true deity, Eloah] does not restrain [turn back, withdraw] His anger [intense emotion]; the helpers [those who aid, assist] of Rahab [Egypt’s pride] cower [stoop, bow down] beneath [under, underneath] Him [in His presence, under His power]. word study 14 How then [in what manner, what possibility] can I [as a mere mortal, fragile human] answer [respond, sing, make music to] Him [the Almighty, God] or [and, also] choose [select, be chosen] my arguments [words, things, matters] against [in opposition to, with] Him [God, the Omnipotent]? word study 15 For even if I were [completely innocent, righteous] right, I could not [on my own, without help] answer [respond, give a defense]. I could only [humbly, with reverence] beg [make supplication, request mercy] my Judge [the One who governs, vindicates] for mercy [gracious favor, kindness, being treated with compassion]. word study 16 If [in the event that, supposing] I summoned [called out to, cried to] Him and He answered [responded to, hearkened to] me, I do not believe [am not faithful, do not trust] He would listen [give ear to, pay attention to] to my voice [my words, my cry]. word study 17 For He would crush [pound, overwhelm] me with a tempest [storm, whirlwind] and multiply [increase, grow] my wounds [injuries, bruises] without cause [for nothing, without reason]. word study 18 He does not [will not suffer, permit] let me catch my breath [take my breath, refresh my spirit], but overwhelms me with [filleth me with, causes me to suffer] bitterness [bitter grief, calamitous events]. word study 19 If it is a matter of [physical or spiritual] strength [power], He is indeed [extremely, supremely] mighty [strong]! If it is a matter of [divine or human] justice [judgment], who [what person] can summon [appoint a time to meet, convene] Him ? word study 20 Even if I were righteous [completely justified, blameless], my mouth [lips, speech] would condemn me; if I were blameless [perfect, without fault], it would declare me guilty [wicked, perverse]. word study 21 Though I am [morally pure, complete] blameless [innocent, perfect], I have no concern [regard, care] for myself [my soul, my life]; I despise [reject, abhor] my own life [existence, being alive]. word study 22 It is all the same [one thing, equally], and so I say, ‘He [God, the Almighty] destroys [puts an end to, consumes] both the blameless [perfect, complete, morally pure] and the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin].’ word study 23 When the scourge [whip, punishment] brings sudden [unexpected, swift] death, He [God, the Almighty] mocks [laughs at, ridicules] the despair [trial, desperation] of the innocent [guiltless, blameless]. word study 24 The earth [land, territory, or region] is given [handed over, entrusted] into the hand [power, control, or direction] of the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin]; He blindfolds [covers, conceals] its judges [rulers, authorities, or vindicators]. If [in the event that, supposing] it is not He [the Almighty, God], then [at that time, in that case] who [what person, which one] is it? word study 25 My days [swift and fleeting, like a post] are swifter [moving quickly, racing by] than a runner [a messenger, a courier]; they flee [running away, escaping] without seeing [perceiving, experiencing] good [pleasant things, welfare, happiness, that which is beneficial or pleasing]. word study 26 They sweep by [like swift ships, rapidly passing] like boats of papyrus [reed vessels, lightweight and agile], like an eagle [a large bird of prey] swooping down [darting, hastening] on its prey [food, quarry]. word study 27 If [in the event that, supposing] I were to say [speak, declare], ‘I will forget [mislay, be oblivious to] my complaint [concern, sorrow] and change [loosen, relinquish] my expression [face, presence] and smile [be cheerful, comfort myself],’ word study 28 I would still dread [be afraid of, have fear of] all [every, each] my sufferings [pains, sorrows, injuries]; I know [am aware, have understood] that You [God, the Judge] will not [cannot, do not] acquit [clear, justify, hold innocent] me [declare me guiltless, find me not guilty]. word study 29 Since I [am already condemned, will be found guilty] am already found guilty [to be wicked, in the wrong], why should I [take trouble] labor [toil, be weary] in vain [emptiness, futility, for nothing]? word study 30 If I should wash [with snow water, or cleanse thoroughly] myself with snow and cleanse [make clean, or purify] my hands [the palms of my hands] with lye [a strong soap, or bor, a cleansing agent], word study 31 then [at that time, in the past] You would plunge me into the pit [a place of destruction, corruption, or grave], and even my own clothes [garments, outer clothing, or raiment] would despise [abhor, detest, or have contempt for] me. word study 32 For He is not a man [a mortal being, like humans] like me, that I can answer [respond to, give an account to] Him, that we can take [come together, go to] each other to court [judgment, a place of justice]. word study 33 Nor is there [no umpire, a judge] a mediator [an arbitrator, one to bring us together] between us, to lay [place, set] his hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] upon us both [as a pair, two parties]. word study 34 Let Him remove [turn aside, take away] His rod [a rod or staff, a sceptre] from me, so that His terror [fear, dread] will no longer [not, let not be] frighten [terrify, startle] me. word study 35 Then I [as a humble speaker] would speak [declare openly, express my thoughts] without fear [dread, reverence] of Him [the Almighty, my Creator]. But as it is [in reality], I am [exist, stand] on my own [alone, by myself, without accompaniment]. word study