Job: How Can I Contend with God? 1 RV Then Job answered and said, BSB BSB: Then Job answered:
2 RV Of a truth I know that it is so: but how can man be just with God? BSB BSB: “Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3 RV If he be pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand. BSB BSB: If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4 RV He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?BSB BSB: God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
5 RV Which removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger. BSB BSB: He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.
6 RV Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. BSB BSB: He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.
7 RV Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. BSB BSB: He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.
8 RV Which alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. BSB BSB: He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 RV Which maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. BSB BSB: He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 RV Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvelous things without number. BSB BSB: He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.
11 RV Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not. BSB BSB: Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.
12 RV Behold, he seizeth the prey , who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou? BSB BSB: If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 RV God will not withdraw his anger; the helpers of Rahab do stoop under him. BSB BSB: God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.
14 RV How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him? BSB BSB: How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
15 RV Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to mine adversary. BSB BSB: For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.
16 RV If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice. BSB BSB: If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.
17 RV For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. BSB BSB: For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.
18 RV He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness. BSB BSB: He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.
19 RV If we speak of the strength of the mighty, lo, he is there ! and if of judgment, who will appoint me a time? 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 RV Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse. BSB BSB: Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
21 RV I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life. BSB BSB: Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22 RV It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. BSB BSB: It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 RV If the scourge slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent. BSB BSB: When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 RV The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not he , who then 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 RV Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. BSB BSB: My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.
26 RV They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that swoopeth on the prey. BSB BSB: They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 RV If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer: BSB BSB: If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’
28 RV I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. BSB BSB: I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
29 RV I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain? BSB BSB: Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30 RV If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean; BSB BSB: If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 RV Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. BSB BSB: then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.
32 RV For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together 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 RV There is no daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. BSB BSB: Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.
34 RV Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid: BSB BSB: Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.
35 RV Then would I speak, and not fear him; for I am not so in myself. 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.