Job 9:14-20
Job 9:14-20 The Message (MSG)
“So how could I ever argue with him, construct a defense that would influence God? Even though I’m innocent I could never prove it; I can only throw myself on the Judge’s mercy. If I called on God and he himself answered me, then, and only then, would I believe that he’d heard me. As it is, he knocks me about from pillar to post, beating me up, black-and-blue, for no good reason. He won’t even let me catch my breath, piles bitterness upon bitterness. If it’s a question of who’s stronger, he wins, hands down! If it’s a question of justice, who’ll serve him the subpoena? Even though innocent, anything I say incriminates me; blameless as I am, my defense just makes me sound worse.
Job 9:14-20 King James Version (KJV)
How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, But I would make supplication to my judge. If I had called, and he had answered me; Yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice. For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause. He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: And if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead? If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Job 9:14-20 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
How then can I answer Him, And choose my words before Him? For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge. If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice. For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause. He will not allow me to get my breath, But saturates me with bitterness. If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him? Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
Job 9:14-20 New Century Version (NCV)
So how can I argue with God, or even find words to argue with him? Even if I were right, I could not answer him; I could only beg God, my Judge, for mercy. If I called to him and he answered, I still don’t believe he would listen to me. He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. When it comes to strength, God is stronger than I; when it comes to justice, no one can accuse him. Even if I were right, my own mouth would say I was wrong; if I were innocent, my mouth would say I was guilty.
Job 9:14-20 American Standard Version (ASV)
How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words to reason with him? Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice. For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause. He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness. If we speak of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me? Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
Job 9:14-20 New International Version (NIV)
“How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
Job 9:14-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
“How then can I answer Him, And choose my words to reason with Him? For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge. If I called and He answered me, I would not believe that He was listening to my voice. For He crushes me with a tempest, And multiplies my wounds without cause. He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills me with bitterness. If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong; And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court? Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.
Job 9:14-20 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“How can I answer Him [and plead my case], Choosing my words [to reason] with Him? “For though I were righteous, I could not answer. I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge. “If I called and He answered me, I could not believe that He was listening to my voice. “For He bruises me with a tempest And multiplies my wounds without cause. “He will not allow me to catch my breath, But fills and saturates me with bitterness. “If it is a matter of strength and power, behold, He is mighty! And if of justice, who can summon and challenge Him? “Though I am innocent and in the right, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty; Though I am blameless, He would denounce me as guilty.
Job 9:14-20 New Living Translation (NLT)
“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows. If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court? Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.
Job 9:14-20 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him? Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser. If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause; he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness. If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.