Job 9:27–31

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 soap

and my hands with cleansing powder,

31 you would plunge me into a slime pit

so that even my clothes would detest me.

27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,

I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,’

28 I become afraid of all my suffering,

for I know you will not hold me innocent.

29 I shall be condemned;

why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow

and cleanse my hands with lye,

31 yet you will plunge me into a pit,

and my own clothes will abhor me.

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint,

I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows,

I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29 If I be wicked,

Why then labour I in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water,

And make my hands never so clean;

31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch,

And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

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.

27 Even though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint;

I will change the look on my face and smile,’

28 I still dread all my suffering.

I know you will hold me guilty.

29 I have already been found guilty,

so why should I struggle for no reason?

30 I might wash myself with soap

and scrub my hands with strong soap,

31 but you would push me into a dirty pit,

and even my clothes would hate me.

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint,

I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer;

28 I am afraid of all my sorrows,

I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

29 I shall be condemned;

Why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water,

And make my hands never so clean;

31 Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch,

And mine own clothes shall abhor me.

27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my sad countenance, and brighten up, 28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent. 29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain? 30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity, 31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.

27 ⸤Even⸥ if I say, ‘I will forget my complaining; 

I will change my expression and smile,’ 

28 I ⸤still⸥ dread everything I must suffer. 

I know that you won’t declare me innocent. 

29 I’ve already been found guilty. 

Why should I work so hard for nothing? 

30 If I wash myself with lye soap

and cleanse my hands with bleach, 

31 then you would plunge me into a muddy pit, 

and my own clothes would find me disgusting. 

27 If I said, “I will forget my complaint,

change my expression, and smile,”

28 I would still live in terror of all my pains.

I know You will not acquit me.

29 Since I will be found guilty,

why should I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow,

and cleanse my hands with lye,

31 then You dip me in a pit of mud,

and my own clothes despise me!

27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint;

I will put off my sad countenance and be of good cheer,’

28 I become afraid of all my suffering,

for I know you will not hold me innocent.

29 I shall be condemned;

why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with soap

and cleanse my hands with lye,

31 yet you will plunge me into filth,

and my own clothes will abhor me.

27 Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint;

I will change my expression, and I will rejoice,’

28 I become afraid of all my sufferings;

I know that you do not consider me innocent.

29 If I shall be declared guilty,

why then should I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with soap,

and I cleanse my hands with lye,

31 then you plunge me into the slime pit,

and my clothes abhor me.

27 Suppose I say, ‘I’ll forget about all of my problems.

I’ll change my frown into a smile.’

28 Then I’d still be afraid I’d go on suffering.

That’s because I know you would say

I had done something wrong.

29 In fact, you have already said I’m guilty.

So why should I struggle without any reason?

30 Suppose I clean myself with soap.

Suppose I wash my hands with cleanser.

31 Even then you would throw me into a muddy pit.

And even my clothes would hate me.

27 “Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,

I will leave off my sad countenance and be cheerful,’

28 I am afraid of all my pains,

I know that You will not acquit me.

29 “I am accounted wicked,

Why then should I toil in vain?

30 “If I should wash myself with snow

And cleanse my hands with lye,

31 Yet You would plunge me into the pit,

And my own clothes would abhor me.