Job 9:19–24

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.

21 “Although I am blameless,

I have no concern for myself;

I despise my own life.

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?

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.

21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul:

I would despise my life.

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?

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.

21 “I am innocent,

but it makes no difference to me—

I despise my life.

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?

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.

21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself;

I despise my life.

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?

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.

21 “I am innocent,

but I don’t care about myself.

I hate my own life.

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?

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.

21 I am perfect; I regard not myself;

I despise my life.

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?

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. 21 Were I perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

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?

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. 

21 If I am a man of integrity, I have no way of knowing it. 

I hate my life! 

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? 

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.

21 Though I am blameless,

I no longer care about myself;

I renounce my life.

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?

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.

21 I am blameless; I do not know myself;

I loathe my life.

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?

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.

21 “I am blameless; I do not care about myself;

I loathe my life.

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?

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.

21 “Even though I’m honest,

I’m not concerned about myself.

I hate my own life.

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?

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.

21 “I am guiltless;

I do not take notice of myself;

I despise my life.

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?