Job: There Is No Mediator
1 Then Job answered and said:
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Truly I know it is so,
But how can a man be righteous before God?
But how can a man be righteous before God?
4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?
5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know
When He overturns them in His anger;
When He overturns them in His anger;
6 He shakes the earth out of its place,
And its pillars tremble;
And its pillars tremble;
7 He commands the sun, and it does not rise;
He seals off the stars;
He seals off the stars;
10 He does great things past finding out,
Yes, wonders without number.
Yes, wonders without number.
11 If He goes by me, I do not see Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
If He moves past, I do not perceive Him;
14 “How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him?
And choose my words to reason with Him?
15 For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge.
I would beg mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.
17 For He crushes me with a tempest,
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath,
But fills me with bitterness.
But fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?
And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?
20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;
I despise my life.
I despise my life.
22 It is all one thing;
Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’
Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge slays suddenly,
He laughs at the plight of the innocent.
He laughs at the plight 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 else could it be?
He covers the faces of its judges.
If it is not He, who else could it be?
25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.
They flee away, they see no good.
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’
I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’
28 I am afraid of all my sufferings;
I know that You will not hold me innocent.
I know that You will not hold me innocent.
29 If I am condemned,
Why then do I labor in vain?
Why then do I labor in vain?
33 Nor is there any mediator between us,
Who may lay his hand on us both.
Who may lay his hand on us both.
34 Let Him take His rod away from me,
And do not let dread of Him terrify me.
And do not let dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak and not fear Him,
But it is not so with me.
But it is not so with me.
Job, 9 chapter