Monday, 28 January 2013
Job 9 (NLT)
1 Then Job spoke again: 2 "Yes, I know all this is true in
principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God's sight? 3 If
someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even
once in a thousand times? 4 For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has
ever challenged him successfully? 5 "Without warning, he moves the
mountains, overturning them in his anger. 6 He shakes the earth from its
place, and its foundations tremble. 7 If he commands it, the sun won't
rise and the stars won't shine. 8 He alone has spread out the heavens and
marches on the waves of the sea. 9 He made all the stars-- the Bear and
Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky. 10 He
does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.
11 "Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not
see him go. 12 If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who
dares to ask, 'What are you doing?' 13 And God does not restrain his
anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet. 14 "So
who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? 15
Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.
16 And even if I summoned him and he responded, I'm not sure he would
listen to me. 17 For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me
without cause. 18 He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me
instead with bitter sorrows. 19 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?
20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I
am blameless, it would prove me wicked. 21 "I am innocent, but it makes
no difference to me-- I despise my life. 22 Innocent or wicked, it is all
the same to God. That's why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the
wicked.' 23 When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the
innocent. 24 The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God
blinds the eyes of the judges. If he's not the one who does it, who is?
25 "My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a
glimpse of happiness. 26 It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an
eagle swooping down on its prey. 27 If I decided to forget my complaints,
to put away my sad face and be cheerful, 28 I would still dread all the
pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God. 29 Whatever
happens, I will be found guilty. So what's the use of trying? 30 Even if
I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye, 31 you would
plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.
32 "God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him
to trial. 33 If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could
bring us together. 34 The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I
would no longer live in terror of his punishment. 35 Then I could speak
to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.
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