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 catch 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 can challenge him?

20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;

if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

14 How much less shall I answer him,

And choose out my words to reason with him?

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer,

But I would make supplication to my judge.

16 If I had called, and he had answered me;

Yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest,

And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath,

But filleth me with bitterness.

19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong:

And if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me:

If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

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.

14 “How then can I answer Him,

And choose my words to reason with Him?

15 For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;

I would beg mercy of my Judge.

16 If I called and He answered me,

I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.

17 For He crushes me with a tempest,

And multiplies my wounds without cause.

18 He will not allow me to catch my breath,

But fills me with bitterness.

19 If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong;

And if of justice, who will appoint my day in court?

20 Though I were righteous, my own mouth would condemn me;

Though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

14 So how can I argue with God,

or even find words to argue with him?

15 Even if I were right, I could not answer him;

I could only beg God, my Judge, for mercy.

16 If I called to him and he answered,

I still don’t believe he would listen to me.

17 He would crush me with a storm

and multiply my wounds for no reason.

18 He would not let me catch my breath

but would overwhelm me with misery.

19 When it comes to strength, God is stronger than I;

when it comes to justice, no one can accuse him.

20 Even if I were right, my own mouth would say I was wrong;

if I were innocent, my mouth would say I was guilty.

14 How much less shall I answer him,

And choose out my words to reason with him?

15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer;

I would make supplication to my judge.

16 If I had called, and he had answered me,

Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.

17 For he breaketh me with a tempest,

And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

18 He will not suffer me to take my breath,

But filleth me with bitterness.

19 If we speak of strength, lo, he is mighty!

And if of justice, Who, saith he, will summon me?

20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me:

Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

14 How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words to strive with him? 15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. 16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, — 17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause. 18 He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses. 19 Be it a question of strength, lo, he is strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time? 20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.

14 “How can I possibly answer God? 

How can I find the right words ⸤to speak⸥ with him? 

15 Even if I were right, I could not answer ⸤him⸥. 

I would have to plead for mercy from my judge. 

16 If I cried out and he answered me, 

I do not believe that he would listen to me. 

17 He would knock me down with a storm 

and bruise me without a reason. 

18 He would not let me catch my breath. 

He fills me with bitterness. 

19 If it is a matter of strength, 

then he is the mighty one. 

If it is about justice, 

who will charge me with a crime? 

20 If I am righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. 

It would declare that I am corrupt even if I am a man of integrity. 

14 How then can I answer Him

or choose my arguments against Him?

15 Even if I were in the right, I could not answer.

I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

16 If I summoned Him and He answered me,

I do not believe He would pay attention to what I said.

17 He batters me with a whirlwind

and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18 He doesn’t let me catch my breath

but soaks me with bitter experiences.

19 If it is a matter of strength, look, He is the Mighty One!

If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

20 Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;

if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.

14 How then can I answer him,

choosing my words with him?

15 Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him;

I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.

16 If I summoned him and he answered me,

I do not believe that he would listen to my voice.

17 For he crushes me with a tempest,

and multiplies my wounds without cause;

18 he will not let me get my breath,

but fills me with bitterness.

19 If it is a contest of strength, he is the strong one!

If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?

20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me;

though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.

14 How much less can I myself answer him?

How can I choose my words with him,

15 whom I cannot answer, even though I am righteous?

From my judge I must implore grace.

16 If I summon him, and he should answer me,

I do not believe that he will listen to my voice—

17 who crushes me with a tempest

and multiplies my wounds without cause.

18 He will not allow me to catch my breath;

rather, he will fill me with bitterness.

19 If it is a matter of strength, look, he is mighty.

But if it is a matter of justice, who can summon me?

20 Even though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;

even though I am blameless, yet it would pronounce me guilty.

14 “So how can I disagree with God?

How can I possibly argue with him?

15 Even if I hadn’t done anything wrong,

I couldn’t answer him.

I could only beg my Judge to have mercy on me.

16 Suppose I called out to him and he answered.

I don’t believe he’d listen to me.

17 He would send a storm to crush me.

He’d increase my wounds without any reason.

18 He wouldn’t let me catch my breath.

He’d make my life very bitter.

19 If it’s a matter of strength, he is mighty!

And if it’s a matter of being fair,

who would dare to bring charges against him?

20 Even if I hadn’t sinned, what I said would prove me guilty.

Even if I were honest, my words would show that I’m wrong.

14 “How then can I answer Him,

And choose my words before Him?

15 “For though I were right, I could not answer;

I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

16 “If I called and He answered me,

I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.

17 “For He bruises me with a tempest

And multiplies my wounds without cause.

18 “He will not allow me to get my breath,

But saturates me with bitterness.

19 “If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one!

And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?

20 “Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;

Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.