Job 9:2,20-21
Job 9:2 King James Version (KJV)
I know it is so of a truth: But how should man be just with God?
Job 9:20-21 King James Version (KJV)
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
Job 9:2 New International Version (NIV)
“Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
Job 9:20-21 New International Version (NIV)
Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty. “Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
Job 9:1-13 The Message (MSG)
Job continued by saying: “So what’s new? I know all this. The question is, ‘How can mere mortals get right with God?’ If we wanted to bring our case before him, what chance would we have? Not one in a thousand! God’s wisdom is so deep, God’s power so immense, who could take him on and come out in one piece? He moves mountains before they know what’s happened, flips them on their heads on a whim. He gives the earth a good shaking up, rocks it down to its very foundations. He tells the sun, ‘Don’t shine,’ and it doesn’t; he pulls the blinds on the stars. All by himself he stretches out the heavens and strides on the waves of the sea. He designed the Big Dipper and Orion, the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri. We’ll never comprehend all the great things he does; his miracle-surprises can’t be counted. Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don’t see him; quietly but surely he’s active, and I miss it. If he steals you blind, who can stop him? Who’s going to say, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’ God doesn’t hold back on his anger; even dragon-bred monsters cringe before him.
Job 9:14-20-21-24 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. “Believe me, I’m blameless. I don’t understand what’s going on. I hate my life! Since either way it ends up the same, I can only conclude that God destroys the good right along with the bad. When calamity hits and brings sudden death, he folds his arms, aloof from the despair of the innocent. He lets the wicked take over running the world, he installs judges who can’t tell right from wrong. If he’s not responsible, who is?
Job 9:2 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
“In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?
Job 9:20-21 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty. I am guiltless; I do not take notice of myself; I despise my life.
Job 9:2 New Century Version (NCV)
“Yes, I know that this is true, but how can anyone be right in the presence of God?
Job 9:20-21 New Century Version (NCV)
Even if I were right, my own mouth would say I was wrong; if I were innocent, my mouth would say I was guilty. “I am innocent, but I don’t care about myself. I hate my own life.
Job 9:2 American Standard Version (ASV)
Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?
Job 9:20-21 American Standard Version (ASV)
Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse. I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
Job 9:2 New King James Version (NKJV)
“Truly I know it is so, But how can a man be righteous before God?
Job 9:20-21 New King James Version (NKJV)
Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse. “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself; I despise my life.
Job 9:2 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“Yes, I know it is true. But how can a mortal man be right before God?
Job 9:20-21 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“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. “[Though] I am blameless, I do not care about myself; I despise my life.
Job 9:2 New Living Translation (NLT)
“Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight?
Job 9:20-21 New Living Translation (NLT)
Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked. “I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me— I despise my life.