9Then Job spoke again.H347H6030H5592"Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God's sight?H3045H551H582H6663H4103If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?H2654H7378H6030H259H5054For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?H2450H3824H533H3581H7185H79995"Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger.H6275H2022H3045H2015H6396He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble.H7264H776H4725H5982H64267If he commands it, the sun won't rise and the stars won't shine.H559H2775H2224H2856H35568He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea.H5186H8064H1869H1116H32209He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky.H6213H5906H3685H3598H2315H848610He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.H6213H1419H369H2714H6381H455711"Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go.H5674H7200H2498H99512If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, 'What are you doing?'H2862H7725H559H621313And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet.H433H7725H639H7293H5826H781714"So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him?H6030H977H169715Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.H6663H6030H2603H819916And even if I summoned him and he responded, I'm not sure he would listen to me.H7121H6030H539H238H696317For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause.H7779H8183H7235H6482H260018He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.H5414H7725H7307H7646H447219If 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?H3581H533H4941H325920Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.H6663H6310H7561H8535H614021"I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me—I despise my life.H8535H3045H5315H3988H241622Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That's why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'H259H559H3615H8535H756323When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent.H7752H4191H6597H3932H4531H535524The 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?H776H5414H3027H7563H3680H6440H8199H64525"My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness.H3117H7043H7323H1272H7200H289626It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.H2498H5973H16H591H5404H2907H40027If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful,H559H7911H7879H5800H6440H108228I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God.H3025H6094H3045H535229Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what's the use of trying?H7561H3021H189230Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye,H7364H7950H4325H1119H3709H1252H1253H214131you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.H227H2881H7845H8008H858132"God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.H376H6030H935H3162H494133If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together.H3426H3198H7896H3027H814734The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.H5493H7626H5493H367H120435Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.H1696H3372
10"I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain.H5315H5354H2416H5800H7879H1696H4751H5315 2I will say to God, 'Don't simply condemn me—tell me the charge you are bringing against me.H559H433H7561H3045H7378 3What do you gain by oppressing me? Why do you reject me, the work of your own hands, while smiling on the schemes of the wicked?H2895H6231H3988H3018H3709H3313H6098H7563 4Are your eyes like those of a human? Do you see things only as people see them?H5869H1320H7200H582H7200 5Is your lifetime only as long as ours? Is your life so shortH3117H3117H582H8141H1397H3117 6that you must quickly probe for my guilt and search for my sin?H1245H5771H1875H2403 7Although you know I am not guilty, no one can rescue me from your hands.H1847H7561H5337H3027 8"'You formed me with your hands; you made me, yet now you completely destroy me.H3027H6087H6213H3162H5439H1104 9Remember that you made me from dust—will you turn me back to dust so soon?H2142H6213H2563H7725H6083H7725 10You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.H5413H2461H7087H1385 11You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together.H3847H5785H1320H7753H6106H1517 12You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.H6213H2416H2617H6486H8104H7307 13'Yet your real motive—your true intent—H6845H3824H3045 14was to watch me, and if I sinned, you would not forgive my guilt.H2398H8104H5352H5771 15If I am guilty, too bad for me; and even if I'm innocent, I can't hold my head high, because I am filled with shame and misery.H7561H480H6663H5375H7218H7649H7036H7202H7200H6040 16And if I hold my head high, you hunt me like a lion and display your awesome power against me.H1342H6679H7826H7725H6381 17Again and again you witness against me. You pour out your growing anger on me and bring fresh armies against me.H2318H5707H7235H3708H5978H2487H6635 18"'Why, then, did you deliver me from my mother's womb? Why didn't you let me die at birth?H3318H7358H1478H5869H7200 19It would be as though I had never existed, going directly from the womb to the grave.H2986H990H6913 20I have only a few days left, so leave me alone, that I may have a moment of comfortH3117H4592H2308H2308H7896H7896H1082H4592 21before I leave—never to return—for the land of darkness and utter gloom.H3212H7725H776H2822H6757 22It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is dark as midnight.'"H776H5890H652H6757H5468H3313H652
11Then Zophar the Naamathite replied to Job.H6030H6691H5284H559 2"Shouldn't someone answer this torrent of words? Is a person proved innocent just by a lot of talking?H7230H1697H6030H376H8193H6663 3Should I remain silent while you babble on? When you mock God, shouldn't someone make you ashamed?H907H2790H4962H2790H3932H3637 4You claim, 'My beliefs are pure,' and 'I am clean in the sight of God.'H559H3948H2134H1249H5869 5If only God would speak; if only he would tell you what he thinks!H199H5414H433H1696H6605H8193 6If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom is not a simple matter. Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!H5046H8587H2451H3718H8454H3045H433H5382H5771 7"Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty?H2714H4672H433H4672H7706H8503 8Such knowledge is higher than the heavens—and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld—what do you know?H1363H8064H6466H6013H7585H3045 9It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea.H4055H752H776H7342H3220 10If God comes and puts a person in prison or calls the court to order, who can stop him?H2498H5462H6950H7725 11For he knows those who are false, and he takes note of all their sins.H3045H7723H4962H7200H205H995 12An empty-headed person won't become wise any more than a wild donkey can bear a human child.H5014H376H3823H120H3205H6501H5895 13"If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer!H3559H3820H6566H3709 14Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you.H205H3027H7368H5766H7931H168 15Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear.H5375H6440H3971H3332H3372 16You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away.H7911H5999H2142H4325H5674 17Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning.H2465H6965H6672H5774H1242 18Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.H982H3426H8615H2658H7901H983 19You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.H7257H2729H7227H2470H6440 20But the wicked will be blinded. They will have no escape. Their only hope is death."H5869H7563H3615H6H4498H8615H4646H5315
12Then Job spoke again.H347H6030H559 2"You people really know everything, don't you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you!H551H5971H2451H4191 3Well, I know a few things myself—and you're no better than I am. Who doesn't know these things you've been saying?H1571H3824H5307H3644 4Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me.H7814H7453H7121H433H6030H6662H8549H7814 5People who are at ease mock those in trouble. They give a push to people who are stumbling.H3559H4571H7272H3940H937H6248H7600 6But robbers are left in peace, and those who provoke God live in safety—though God keeps them in his power.H168H7703H7951H7264H410H987H3027H433H935 7"Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.H199H7592H929H3384H5775H8064H5046 8Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you.H7878H776H3384H1709H3220H5608 9For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the LORD.H3045H3027H3068H6213 10For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.H3027H5315H2416H7307H376H1320 11The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.H241H974H4405H2441H2938H400 12Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.H3453H2451H753H3117H8394 13"But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are his.H2451H1369H6098H8394 14What he destroys cannot be rebuilt. When he puts someone in prison, there is no escape.H2040H1129H5462H376H6605 15If he holds back the rain, the earth becomes a desert. If he releases the waters, they flood the earth.H6113H4325H3001H7971H2015H776 16Yes, strength and wisdom are his; deceivers and deceived are both in his power.H5797H8454H7683H7686 17He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment; wise judges become fools.H3212H3289H7758H8199H1984 18He removes the royal robe of kings. They are led away with ropes around their waist.H6605H4148H4428H631H4975H232 19He leads priests away, stripped of status; he overthrows those with long years in power.H3212H3548H7758H5557H386 20He silences the trusted adviser and removes the insight of the elders.H5493H8193H539H3947H2940H2205 21He pours disgrace upon princes and disarms the strong.H8210H937H5081H7503H4206H650 22"He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom.H1540H6013H2822H3318H216H6757 23He builds up nations, and he destroys them. He expands nations, and he abandons them.H7679H1471H6H7849H1471H5148 24He strips kings of understanding and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland.H5493H3820H7218H5971H776H8582H8414H1870 25They grope in the darkness without a light. He makes them stagger like drunkards.H4959H2822H216H8582H7910
Dublin, OH
, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?H2654
