Job's Third Speech: A Response To Bildad

1 Then Job answered:

1 Then Job answered and said,

1 Then Job (a)answered,

1 Then Job answered:

1 This was Job's response:

2 "Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?

2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

2 “In truth I know that this is so;But how can a (A)man be in the right (b)before God?

2 Yes, I know what you’ve said is true,but how can a person be justified before God?(A)

2 "Indeed, I'm fully aware that this is so, but how can a person become right with God?

3 If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.

3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

3 “If one wished to (B)dispute with Him,He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

3 If one wanted to take(B) Him to court,he could not answer God(a) once in a thousand times.(C)

3 If one were to seek to argue with him, he won't be able to answer him even once in a thousand times.

4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength -- who has resisted him and remained safe?

4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

4 (C)Wise in heart and (D)mighty in strength,Who has (c)(E)defied Him (d)without harm?

4 God is wise(D) and all-powerful.Who has opposed Him and come out unharmed?

4 He is wise in heart and strong in will who can be stubborn against him and succeed?

5 He who removes mountains suddenly, who overturns them in his anger;

5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.

5 (F)It is God who removes the mountains, they know not how,When He overturns them in His anger;

5 He removes mountains without their knowledge,overturning them in His anger.(E)

5 "He removes mountains without their knowledge, overthrowing them in his anger.

6 he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble;

6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.

6 Who (G)shakes the earth out of its place,And its (H)pillars tremble;

6 He shakes the earth from its placeso that its pillars tremble.

6 He shakes the earth from its orbit, so that its foundations shudder.

7 he who commands the sun and it does not shine and seals up the stars;

7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.

7 Who commands the (I)sun (e)not to shine,And sets a seal upon the stars;

7 He commands the sun not to shineand seals off the stars.(F)

7 He commands the sun so that it doesn't shine and seals up the stars.

8 he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea;

8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

8 Who alone (J)stretches out the heavensAnd (f)(K)tramples down the waves of the sea;

8 He alone stretches out the heavens(G)and treads on the waves of the sea.(b)

8 He alone spreads out the heavens, he walks on the waves of the sea.

9 he makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky;

9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.

9 Who makes the (L)Bear, Orion and the Pleiades,And the (M)chambers of the south;

9 He makes the stars: the Bear,(c) Orion,the Pleiades,(H) and the constellations(d) of the southern sky.

9 He created Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the southern constellations.

10 he does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things without number.

10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

10 Who (N)does great things, (g)unfathomable,And wondrous works without number.

10 He does great and unsearchable things,wonders without number.(I)

10 He does great things that cannot be explained, and awesome deeds that cannot be counted.

11 If he passes by me, I cannot see him, if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.

11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

11 “Were He to pass by me, (O)I would not see Him;Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.

11 If He passes by me, I wouldn’t see Him;(J)if He goes right by, I wouldn’t recognize Him.

11 "If he were to pass near me, I wouldn't notice; if he moves by, I wouldn't perceive him.

12 If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, 'What are you doing?'

12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

12 “Were He to snatch away, who could (P)restrain Him?Who could say to Him, ‘(Q)What are You doing?’

12 If He snatches something, who can stop(e) Him?Who can ask Him, “What are You doing?”(K)

12 Indeed, if he snatches someone away, who could restrain him? Who can say to him, "What are you doing?'

13 God does not restrain his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lie crushed.

13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

13 “God will not turn back His anger;Beneath Him crouch the helpers of (R)Rahab.

13 God does not hold back His anger;Rahab’s(L) assistants cringe in fear beneath Him!

13 "God doesn't restrain his anger. Rahab's assistants are humiliated under him.

14 "How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him!

14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

14 “How then can (S)I (h)answer Him,And choose my words (i)before Him?

14 How then can I answer Himor choose my arguments against Him?

14 So how am I to answer him, choosing what I am to say to him?

Though I Am Innocent

15 Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

15 “For (T)though I were right, I could not (j)answer;I would have to (U)implore the mercy of my judge.

15 Even if I were in the right, I could not answer.I could only beg my Judge for mercy.(M)

15 Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.

16 If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice --

16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

16 “If I called and He answered me,I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.

16 If I summoned Him and He answered me,I do not believe He would pay attention to what I said.

16 "Were I to be summoned, and he were to answer me, I wouldn't even believe that he was listening to what I have to say.

17 he who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds for no reason.

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

17 “For He (V)bruises me with a tempestAnd multiplies my wounds without cause.

17 He batters me with a whirlwind(N)and multiplies my wounds without cause.

17 For he crushes me with a storm, and keeps on wounding me for no reason.

18 He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

18 “He will (W)not allow me to get my breath,But saturates me with (X)bitterness.

18 He doesn’t let me catch my breathbut soaks me with bitter experiences.

18 He won't let me catch my breath; instead, he fills me with bitterness.

19 If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, 'Who will summon me?'

19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

19 “If it is a matter of power, (Y)behold, He is the strong one!And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon (k)Him?

19 If it is a matter of strength, look, He is the Mighty One!(O)If it is a matter of justice, who can summon(P) Him?(f)

19 "Is this a contest of strength? He is obviously stronger! Is this a matter of justice? Who can sue him?

20 Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

20 (Z)Though I am righteous, my mouth will (AA)condemn me;Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.

20 Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;(Q)if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.

20 Though I'm in the right, my own mouth will condemn me; though I'm blameless, he'll pronounce me as guilty.

21 I am blameless. I do not know myself. I despise my life.

21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

21 “I am (AB)guiltless;I do not take notice of myself;I (AC)despise my life.

21 Though I am blameless,I no longer care about myself;I renounce my life.(R)

21 "I'm blameless; I don't know myself; I despise my life.

22 "It is all one! That is why I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the guilty.'

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

22 “It is all one; therefore I say,‘He (AD)destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’

22 It is all the same. Therefore I say,“He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.”(S)

22 I say it's all the same he destroys both the blameless and the guilty.

23 If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

23 “If the scourge kills suddenly,He (AE)mocks the despair of the innocent.

23 When disaster brings sudden death,He mocks the despair of the innocent.

23 If a calamity causes sudden death, he'll mock at the despair of the innocent.

24 If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

24 “The earth (AF)is given into the hand of the wicked;He (AG)covers the faces of its judges.If it is not He, then who is it?

24 The earth(g) is handed over to the wicked;He blindfolds(h) its judges.(T)If it isn’t He, then who is it?

24 A land is given into the hands of a wicked person; he covers the faces of its judges. If it is not God, then who is it?"

My Life Is Speeding By

25 "My days are swifter than a runner, they speed by without seeing happiness.

25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.

25 “Now (AH)my days are swifter than a runner;They flee away, (AI)they see no good.

25 My days fly by faster than a runner;(i)(U)they flee without seeing any good.(V)

25 "My days pass faster than a runner; but they pass quickly without seeing anything good.

26 They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.

26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

26 “They slip by like (AJ)reed boats,Like an (AK)eagle that swoops on (l)its prey.

26 They sweep by like boats made of papyrus,like an eagle swooping down on its prey.(W)

26 They pass by like a ship made of reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,'

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

27 “Though I say, ‘I will forget (AL)my complaint,I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,’

27 If I said, “I will forget my complaint,change my expression, and smile,”

27 If I were to say, "Let me forget my complaint,' change the expression on my face, and look cheerful,

28 I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless.

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

28 I am (AM)afraid of all my pains,I know that (AN)You will not acquit me.

28 I would still live in terror of all my pains.(X)I know You will not acquit me.(Y)

28 then I still dread all of my suffering; I know you still won't acquit me.

29 If I am guilty, why then weary myself in vain?

29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

29 “I am accounted (AO)wicked,Why then should I toil in vain?

29 Since I will be found guilty,(Z)why should I labor in vain?

29 I will be condemned, so why should I wear myself out with this futility?

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands clean with lye,

30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

30 “If I should (AP)wash myself with snowAnd cleanse (AQ)my hands with lye,

30 If I wash myself with snow,and cleanse my hands with lye,

30 "If I wash myself with water from snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,

31 then you plunge me into a slimy pit and my own clothes abhor me.

31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.

31 Yet You would plunge me into the pit,And my own clothes would abhor me.

31 then You dip me in a pit of mud,and my own clothes despise me!

31 you'll still drop me into the Pit, and my own clothes will despise me.

32 For he is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

32 “For (AR)He is not a man as I am that (AS)I may answer Him,That we may go to (m)court together.

32 For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him,(AA)that we can take each other to court.

32 He's not a man like me, so that I can answer him, or that we can enter into litigation with one another.

33 Nor is there an arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both,

33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

33 “There is no (AT)umpire between us,Who may lay his hand upon us both.

33 There is no one to judge between us,to lay his hand on both of us.

33 There is not yet a mediator between us, who would set his hand on the two of us,

34 who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid.

34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

34 “Let Him (AU)remove His rod from me,And let not dread of Him terrify me.

34 Let Him take His rod away from meso His terror will no longer frighten me.(AB)

34 removing his rod from me, and not letting terror of him overwhelm me.

35 Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

35 “Then I (AV)would speak and not fear Him;But I am not like that in myself.

35 Then I would speak and not fear Him.But that is not the case; I am on my own. >

35 Otherwise, I would speak without being terrified of him, because I'm not like that inside myself."

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible