Job: How Can I Contend with God? 1 CPDV And Job, responding, said: BSB BSB: Then Job answered:
2 CPDV Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God. BSB BSB: “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3 CPDV If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times. BSB BSB: If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4 CPDV He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace? BSB BSB: God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
5 CPDV He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it. BSB BSB: He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.
6 CPDV He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble. BSB BSB: He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.
7 CPDV He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal. BSB BSB: He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.
8 CPDV He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea. BSB BSB: He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 CPDV He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south. BSB BSB: He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 CPDV He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered. BSB BSB: He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.
11 CPDV If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand. BSB BSB: Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.
12 CPDV If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?” BSB BSB: If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 CPDV God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world, BSB BSB: God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.
14 CPDV what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him? BSB BSB: How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
15 CPDV And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge. BSB BSB: For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.
16 CPDV And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice. BSB BSB: If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.
17 CPDV For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause. BSB BSB: For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.
18 CPDV He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness. BSB BSB: He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.
19 CPDV If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me. BSB BSB: If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
20 CPDV If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved. BSB BSB: Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
21 CPDV And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me. BSB BSB: Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22 CPDV There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes. BSB BSB: It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 CPDV If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent. BSB BSB: When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 CPDV Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it? BSB BSB: The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25 CPDV My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness. BSB BSB: My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.
26 CPDV They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food. BSB BSB: They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 CPDV If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow. BSB BSB: If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’
28 CPDV I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender. BSB BSB: I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
29 CPDV Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain? BSB BSB: Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30 CPDV If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing, BSB BSB: If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 CPDV yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me. BSB BSB: then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.
32 CPDV For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment. BSB BSB: For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
33 CPDV There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two. BSB BSB: Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.
34 CPDV Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me. BSB BSB: Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.
35 CPDV I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond. BSB BSB: Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.