Job 9:14–16
Job 9:14–16 — English Standard Version (ESV)
14 How then can I answer him,
choosing my words with him?
15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
16 If I summoned him and he answered me,
I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
Job 9:14–16 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
14 How much less shall I answer him,
And choose out my words to reason with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer,
But I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me;
Yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
Job 9:14–16 — New Living Translation (NLT)
14 “So who am I, that I should try to answer God
or even reason with him?
15 Even if I were right, I would have no defense.
I could only plead for mercy.
16 And even if I summoned him and he responded,
I’m not sure he would listen to me.
Job 9:14–16 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
14 “How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words to reason with Him?
15 For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him;
I would beg mercy of my Judge.
16 If I called and He answered me,
I would not believe that He was listening to my voice.
Job 9:14–16 — New Century Version (NCV)
14 So how can I argue with God,
or even find words to argue with him?
15 Even if I were right, I could not answer him;
I could only beg God, my Judge, for mercy.
16 If I called to him and he answered,
I still don’t believe he would listen to me.
Job 9:14–16 — American Standard Version (ASV)
14 How much less shall I answer him,
And choose out my words to reason with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer;
I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me,
Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.
Job 9:14–16 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
14 How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words to strive with him? 15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge. 16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
Job 9:14–16 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
14 “How can I possibly answer God?
How can I find the right words ⸤to speak⸥ with him?
15 Even if I were right, I could not answer ⸤him⸥.
I would have to plead for mercy from my judge.
16 If I cried out and he answered me,
I do not believe that he would listen to me.
Job 9:14–16 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 How then can I answer Him
or choose my arguments against Him?
15 Even if I were in the right, I could not answer.
I could only beg my Judge for mercy.
16 If I summoned Him and He answered me,
I do not believe He would pay attention to what I said.
Job 9:14–16 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
14 How then can I answer him,
choosing my words with him?
15 Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him;
I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
16 If I summoned him and he answered me,
I do not believe that he would listen to my voice.
Job 9:14–16 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
14 How much less can I myself answer him?
How can I choose my words with him,
15 whom I cannot answer, even though I am righteous?
From my judge I must implore grace.
16 If I summon him, and he should answer me,
I do not believe that he will listen to my voice—
Job 9:14–16 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
14 “So how can I disagree with God?
How can I possibly argue with him?
15 Even if I hadn’t done anything wrong,
I couldn’t answer him.
I could only beg my Judge to have mercy on me.
16 Suppose I called out to him and he answered.
I don’t believe he’d listen to me.
Job 9:14–16 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
14 “How then can I answer Him,
And choose my words before Him?
15 “For though I were right, I could not answer;
I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.
16 “If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.