|
2 "Indeed, I know that this is true.
But how can a mortal be righteous before God? |
3 Though one wished to dispute with him,
he could not answer him one time out of a thousand. |
4 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? |
5 He moves mountains without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger. |
6 He shakes the earth from its place
and makes its pillars tremble. |
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;
he seals off the light of the stars. |
8 He alone stretches out the heavens
and treads on the waves of the sea. |
9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. |
10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted. |
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. |
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?
Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?' |
13 God does not restrain his anger;
even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet. |
14 "How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him? |
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;
I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. |
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing. |
17 He would crush me with a storm
and multiply my wounds for no reason. |
18 He would not let me regain my breath
but would overwhelm me with misery. |
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!
And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him1 9:19 See Septuagint; Hebrew me . ? |
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty. |
21 "Although I am blameless,
I have no concern for myself;
I despise my own life. |
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.' |
23 When a scourge brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent. |
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,
he blindfolds its judges.
If it is not he, then who is it? |
25 "My days are swifter than a runner;
they fly away without a glimpse of joy. |
26 They skim past like boats of papyrus,
like eagles swooping down on their prey. |
27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint,
I will change my expression, and smile,' |
28 I still dread all my sufferings,
for I know you will not hold me innocent. |
29 Since I am already found guilty,
why should I struggle in vain? |
30 Even if I washed myself with soap2 9:30 Or snow
and my hands with washing soda, |
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit
so that even my clothes would detest me. |
32 "He is not a man like me that I might answer him,
that we might confront each other in court. |
33 If only there were someone to arbitrate between us,
to lay his hand upon us both, |
34 someone to remove God's rod from me,
so that his terror would frighten me no more. |
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,
but as it now stands with me, I cannot. |
