Job 15:14–18

14 “What are mortals, that they could be pure,

or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?

15 If God places no trust in his holy ones,

if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,

16 how much less mortals, who are vile and corrupt,

who drink up evil like water!

17 “Listen to me and I will explain to you;

let me tell you what I have seen,

18 what the wise have declared,

hiding nothing received from their ancestors

14 What is man, that he should be clean?

And he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints;

Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.

16 How much more abominable and filthy

Is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

17 I will shew thee, hear me;

And that which I have seen I will declare;

18 Which wise men have told

From their fathers, and have not hid it:

14 Can any mortal be pure?

Can anyone born of a woman be just?

15 Look, God does not even trust the angels.

Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in his sight.

16 How much less pure is a corrupt and sinful person

with a thirst for wickedness!

17 “If you will listen, I will show you.

I will answer you from my own experience.

18 And it is confirmed by the reports of wise men

who have heard the same thing from their fathers—

14 “What is man, that he could be pure?

And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?

15 If God puts no trust in His saints,

And the heavens are not pure in His sight,

16 How much less man, who is abominable and filthy,

Who drinks iniquity like water!

17 “I will tell you, hear me;

What I have seen I will declare,

18 What wise men have told,

Not hiding anything received from their fathers,

14 “How can anyone be pure?

How can someone born to a woman be good?

15 God places no trust in his holy ones,

and even the heavens are not pure in his eyes.

16 How much less pure is one who is terrible and rotten

and drinks up evil as if it were water!

17 “Listen to me, and I will tell you about it;

I will tell you what I have seen.

18 These are things wise men have told;

their ancestors told them, and they have hidden nothing.

14 What is man, that he should be clean?

And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones;

Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:

16 How much less one that is abominable and corrupt,

A man that drinketh iniquity like water!

17 I will show thee, hear thou me;

And that which I have seen I will declare

18 (Which wise men have told

From their fathers, and have not hid it;

14 What is man, that he should be pure? and he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous? 15 Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight: 16 How much less the abominable and corrupt, —man, that drinketh unrighteousness like water!

17 I will shew thee, listen to me; and what I have seen I will declare; 18 Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hidden;

14 Why should a mortal be considered faultless 

or someone born of a woman be considered righteous? 

15 If God doesn’t trust his holy ones, 

and the heavens are not pure in his sight, 

16 how much less will he trust the one who is disgusting and corrupt, 

the one who drinks wickedness like water. 

17 “I’ll tell you; listen to me! 

I’ll relate what I have seen. 

18 I’ll tell you what wise people have declared 

and what was not kept secret from their ancestors. 

14 What is man, that he should be pure,

or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?

15 If God puts no trust in His holy ones

and the heavens are not pure in His sight,

16 how much less one who is revolting and corrupt,

who drinks injustice like water?

17 Listen to me and I will inform you.

I will describe what I have seen,

18 what was declared by wise men

and was not suppressed by their ancestors,

14 What are mortals, that they can be clean?

Or those born of woman, that they can be righteous?

15 God puts no trust even in his holy ones,

and the heavens are not clean in his sight;

16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt,

one who drinks iniquity like water!

17 “I will show you; listen to me;

what I have seen I will declare—

18 what sages have told

and their ancestors have not hidden,

14 “What is a human being, that he can be clean,

or that one born of a woman can be righteous?

15 Look, he does not trust his holy ones,

and the heavens are not clean in his eyes.

16 How much less he who is abominable and corrupt,

a man drinking wickedness like water.

17 “I will show you, listen to me;

and what I have seen, I will tell—

18 what wise men have told,

and they have not hidden that which is from their ancestors,

14 “Can human beings really be pure?

Can mere men really be right with God?

15 God doesn’t trust his holy angels.

Even the heavens aren’t pure in his sight.

16 So he’ll certainly find fault with human beings.

After all, they are evil and sinful.

They drink up evil as if it were water.

17 “Listen to me. I’ll explain things to you.

Let me tell you what I’ve seen.

18 I’ll tell you what those who are wise have said.

They don’t hide anything they’ve received

from their people of long ago.

14 “What is man, that he should be pure,

Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

15 “Behold, He puts no trust in His holy ones,

And the heavens are not pure in His sight;

16 How much less one who is detestable and corrupt,

Man, who drinks iniquity like water!

17 “I will tell you, listen to me;

And what I have seen I will also declare;

18 What wise men have told,

And have not concealed from their fathers,