Job's Fourth Speech Continues
Your Wisdom Misrepresents God
9 Would it be well, when he searched you out? Or, as one might jest with a mortal, would ye jest, with him?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
9 Will things go well for you under his cross-examination? Can you lie to him, as you would to a human being?
12 Are not your memorable sayings, proverbs of ashes? Breastworks of clay, your breastworks?
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
12 “Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes,Your defenses are defenses of clay.
12 Your maxims are just worthless proverbs; your defensive arguments are made of clay."
Be Quiet While I Speak
15 Lo! he may slay me, yet , for him, will I wait, - Nevertheless, my ways - unto his face, will I show to be right:
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
15 Even though he kills me, I'll continue to hope in him. At least I'll be able to argue my case to his face!
Job Speaks To God
17 Hear ye patiently my speech, and be my declaration in your ears.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
17 “Listen carefully to my speech,And let my declaration fill your ears.
17 Pay close attention to my words;let my declaration ring in your ears.
17 Pay attention to what I have to say and listen to my testimony with your own ears."
19 Who is it that shall contend with me? For, now, if I should hold my peace, why! I should breathe my last!
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
19 Can anyone indict me?If so, I will be silent and die.
19 Who can oppose me? If they do, I'll be silent and die.
Job Argues His Case With God
20 Only, two things, do thou not with me, then, from thy face, will I not hide me: -
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
20 “Only two things do not do to me,Then I will not hide from Your face:
20 Only grant these two things to me, God,so that I will not have to hide from Your presence:
20 Grant me only two things as you deal with me; then I won't hide from you.
25 A driven leaf, wilt thou cause to tremble? Or, dry stubble, wilt thou pursue?
25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?
25 Will You frighten a wind-driven leaf?Will You chase after dry straw?
25 Are you a god who would make a leaf tremble or who would prosecute a dry straw?
26 For thou writest, against me, bitter things, and dost make me inherit the iniquities of my youth;
26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.
26 “For You write (AD)bitter things against meAnd (AE)make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
26 For You record bitter accusations against meand make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
26 You've accused me of bitter things; you've caused me to reap the sins of my youth.
27 And thou dost put - in the stocks - my feet, and observest all my paths, Against the roots of my feet, thou dost cut out a bound;
27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.
27 “You (AF)put my feet in the stocksAnd watch all my paths;You (g)set a limit for the soles of my feet,
27 You put my feet in the stocksand stand watch over all my paths,setting a limit for the soles(f) of my feet.
27 You've locked my feet in stocks; you watch all my steps; You've limited where I can walk.