Job 9:16–23

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.