Job 33:8–13

“Surely you have spoken in my ears,

and I have heard the sound of your words.

You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.

Behold, he finds occasions against me,

he counts me as his enemy,

he puts my feet in the stocks

and watches all my paths.’

“Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,

for God is greater than man.

Why do you contend against him,

saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words’?

“But you have said in my hearing—

I heard the very words—

‘I am pure, I have done no wrong;

I am clean and free from sin.

Yet God has found fault with me;

he considers me his enemy.

He fastens my feet in shackles;

he keeps close watch on all my paths.’

“But I tell you, in this you are not right,

for God is greater than any mortal.

Why do you complain to him

that he responds to no one’s words?

Surely you have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard these very words:

“I am pure, without transgression;

I am clean and have no iniquity.

But he finds reasons to oppose me;

he regards me as his enemy.

He puts my feet in the stocks;

he stands watch over all my paths.”

But I tell you that you are wrong in this matter,

since God is greater than man.

Why do you take him to court

for not answering anything a person asks?

“You have spoken in my hearing,

and I have heard your very words.

You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin;

I am innocent; I have no guilt.

God is picking a quarrel with me,

and he considers me his enemy.

He puts my feet in the stocks

and watches my every move.’

“But you are wrong, and I will show you why.

For God is greater than any human being.

So why are you bringing a charge against him?

Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints?

“Surely you have spoken in my ears,

and I have heard the sound of your words:

‘I am clean, without transgression;

I am pure, and there is no guilt in me.

Look, he finds fault against me;

he reckons me as his enemy;

he puts my feet in the block;

he watches all my paths.’

“Look, in this you are not right—I will answer you:

Indeed, God is greater than a human being.

Why do you contend against him,

that he will not answer all a person’s words?

Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing,

And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

I am clean without transgression,

I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

Behold, he findeth occasions against me,

He counteth me for his enemy,

He putteth my feet in the stocks,

He marketh all my paths.

Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee,

That God is greater than man.

Why dost thou strive against him?

For he giveth not account of any of his matters.