Job 9:14–20

How then can I answer him,

choosing my words with him?

Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;

I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.

If I summoned him and he answered me,

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

For he crushes me with a tempest

and multiplies my wounds without cause;

he will not let me get my breath,

but fills me with bitterness.

If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty!

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

Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;

though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.

“How then can I dispute with him?

How can I find words to argue with him?

Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;

I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.

Even if I summoned him and he responded,

I do not believe he would give me a hearing.

He would crush me with a storm

and multiply my wounds for no reason.

He would not let me catch my breath

but would overwhelm me with misery.

If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!

And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him?

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

if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

How then can I answer him

or choose my arguments against him?

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

I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

If I summoned him and he answered me,

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

He batters me with a whirlwind

and multiplies my wounds without cause.

He doesn’t let me catch my breath

but fills me with bitter experiences.

If it is a matter of strength, look, he is the powerful one!

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

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

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

“So who am I, that I should try to answer God

or even reason with him?

Even if I were right, I would have no defense.

I could only plead for mercy.

And even if I summoned him and he responded,

I’m not sure he would listen to me.

For he attacks me with a storm

and repeatedly wounds me without cause.

He will not let me catch my breath,

but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.

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?

Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.

Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.

How much less can I myself answer him?

How can I choose my words with him,

whom I cannot answer, even though I am righteous?

From my judge I must implore grace.

If I summon him, and he should answer me,

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

who crushes me with a tempest

and multiplies my wounds without cause.

He will not allow me to catch my breath;

rather, he will fill me with bitterness.

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

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

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

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

How much less shall I answer him,

And choose out my words to reason with him?

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

But I would make supplication to my judge.

If I had called, and he had answered me;

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

For he breaketh me with a tempest,

And multiplieth my wounds without cause.

He will not suffer me to take my breath,

But filleth me with bitterness.

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

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

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

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