Job 9:22–31

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 soap

and my hands with cleansing powder,

31 you would plunge me into a slime pit

so that even my clothes would detest me.

22 This is one thing, therefore I said it,

He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly,

He will laugh at the trial of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked:

He covereth the faces of the judges thereof;

If not, where, and who is he?

25 Now my days are swifter than a post:

They flee away, they see no good.

26 They are passed away as the swift ships:

As the eagle that hasteth to the prey.

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.

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.

22 It is all one thing;

Therefore I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’

23 If the scourge slays suddenly,

He laughs at the plight of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked.

He covers the faces of its judges.

If it is not He, who else could it be?

25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner;

They flee away, they see no good.

26 They pass by like swift ships,

Like an eagle swooping on its prey.

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

I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’

28 I am afraid of all my sufferings;

I know that You will not hold me innocent.

29 If I am condemned,

Why then do I labor in vain?

30 If I wash myself with snow water,

And cleanse my hands with soap,

31 Yet You will plunge me into the pit,

And my own clothes will abhor me.

22 It is all the same. That is why I say,

‘God destroys both the innocent and the guilty.’

23 If the whip brings sudden death,

God will laugh at the suffering of the innocent.

24 When the land falls into the hands of evil people,

he covers the judges’ faces so they can’t see it.

If it is not God who does this, then who is it?

25 “My days go by faster than a runner;

they fly away without my seeing any joy.

26 They glide past like paper boats.

They attack like eagles swooping down to feed.

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.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

23 If the scourge slay suddenly,

He will mock at the trial of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

He covereth the faces of the judges thereof:

If it be not he, who then is it?

25 Now my days are swifter than a post:

They flee away, they see no good,

26 They are passed away as the swift ships;

As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.

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.

22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked. 23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent. 24 The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked man; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?

25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good. 26 They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey. 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.

22 It is all the same. 

That is why I say, 

‘He destroys ⸤both⸥ the man of integrity and the wicked.’ 

23 When a sudden disaster brings death, 

he makes fun of the despair of innocent people. 

24 The earth is handed over to the wicked. 

He covers the faces of its judges. 

If he isn’t the one ⸤doing this⸥, who is? 

25 “My days go by more quickly than a runner. 

They sprint away. 

They don’t see anything good. 

26 They pass by quickly like boats made from reeds, 

like an eagle swooping down on its prey. 

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. 

22 It is all the same. Therefore I say,

“He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.”

23 When disaster brings sudden death,

He mocks the despair of the innocent.

24 The earth is handed over to the wicked;

He blindfolds its judges.

If it isn’t He, then who is it?

25 My days fly by faster than a runner;

they flee without seeing any good.

26 They sweep by like boats made of papyrus,

like an eagle swooping down on its prey.

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!

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23 When disaster brings sudden death,

he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

he covers the eyes of its judges—

if it is not he, who then is it?

25 “My days are swifter than a runner;

they flee away; they see no good.

26 They go by like skiffs of reed,

like an eagle swooping on the prey.

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.

22 It is all one; therefore I say,

‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’

23 When the whip kills suddenly,

he mocks at the despair of the innocent.

24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

he covers the face of its judge—

if it is not he, then who is it?

25 “And my days are swifter than a runner;

they flee away; they do not see good.

26 They go by like papyrus skiffs,

like an eagle swoops down on its prey.

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.

22 It all amounts to the same thing. That’s why I say,

‘God destroys honest people and sinful people alike.’

23 Suppose a plague brings sudden death.

Then he laughs when those who haven’t sinned lose hope.

24 Suppose a nation falls into the power of sinful people.

Then God makes its judges blind to the truth.

If he isn’t the one doing it, who is?

25 “God, my days race by like a runner.

They fly away without seeing any joy.

26 They speed along like papyrus boats.

They are like eagles swooping down on their food.

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.

22 “It is all one; therefore I say,

‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’

23 “If the scourge kills suddenly,

He mocks the despair of the innocent.

24 “The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;

He covers the faces of its judges.

If it is not He, then who is it?

25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner;

They flee away, they see no good.

26 “They slip by like reed boats,

Like an eagle that swoops on its prey.

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.