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Job 40:1–8

40 Moreover the Lord aanswered Job, and said:

2 “Shall bthe one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?

He who crebukes God, let him answer it.”

Job’s Response to God

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, dI am vile;

What shall I answer You?

eI lay my hand over my mouth.

5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;

Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

God’s Challenge to Job

fThen the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

7 “Now g 1prepare yourself like a man;

hI will question you, and you shall answer Me:

8 “Would iyou indeed 2annul My judgment?

Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?

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Job 40:1–8 — The New International Version (NIV)

The Lord said to Job:

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?

Let him who accuses God answer him!”

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?

I put my hand over my mouth.

I spoke once, but I have no answer—

twice, but I will say no more.”

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:

“Brace yourself like a man;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.

“Would you discredit my justice?

Would you condemn me to justify yourself?

Job 40:1–8 — English Standard Version (ESV)

And the Lord said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

“Dress for action like a man;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.

Will you even put me in the wrong?

Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?

Job 40:1–8 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said,

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?

He that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee?

I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer:

Yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Gird up thy loins now like a man:

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Wilt thou also disannul my judgment?

Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Job 40:1–8 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Then the Lord said to Job,

“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?

You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”

Then Job replied to the Lord,

“I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?

I will cover my mouth with my hand.

I have said too much already.

I have nothing more to say.”

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

“Brace yourself like a man,

because I have some questions for you,

and you must answer them.

“Will you discredit my justice

and condemn me just to prove you are right?

Job 40:1–8 — New Century Version (NCV)

The Lord said to Job:

“Will the person who argues with the Almighty correct him?

Let the person who accuses God answer him.”

Then Job answered the Lord:

“I am not worthy; I cannot answer you anything,

so I will put my hand over my mouth.

I spoke one time, but I will not answer again;

I even spoke two times, but I will say nothing more.”

Then the Lord spoke to Job from the storm:

“Be strong, like a man!

I will ask you questions,

and you must answer me.

Would you say that I am unfair?

Would you blame me to make yourself look right?

Job 40:1–8 — American Standard Version (ASV)

Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said,

Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty?

He that argueth with God, let him answer it.

Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,

Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer thee?

I lay my hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken, and I will not answer;

Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.

Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Gird up thy loins now like a man:

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

Wilt thou even annul my judgment?

Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified?

Job 40:1–8 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

And Jehovah answered Job and said, Shall he that will contend with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth †God, let him answer it. And Job answered Jehovah and said, Behold, I am nought: what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; yea twice, but I will proceed no further.

And Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Gird up now thy loins like a man: I will demand of thee, and inform thou me. Wilt thou also annul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me that thou mayest be righteous?

Job 40:1–8 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

The Lord responded to Job, 

“Will the person who finds fault with the Almighty correct him? 

Will the person who argues with God answer him?” 

Job answered the Lord

“I’m so insignificant. How can I answer you? 

I will put my hand over my mouth. 

I spoke once, but I can’t answer— 

twice, but not again.” 

Then the Lord responded to Job out of a storm, 

“Brace yourself like a man! 

I will ask you, and you will teach me. 

“Would you undo my justice? 

Would you condemn me so that you can be righteous? 

Job 40:1–8 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Lord answered Job:

Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?

Let him who argues with God give an answer.

Then Job answered the Lord:

I am so insignificant. How can I answer You?

I place my hand over my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not reply;

twice, but now I can add nothing.

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

Get ready to answer Me like a man;

When I question you, you will inform Me.

Would you really challenge My justice?

Would you declare Me guilty to justify yourself?

Job 40:1–8 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

And the Lord said to Job:

“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Anyone who argues with God must respond.”

Then Job answered the Lord:

“See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

I have spoken once, and I will not answer;

twice, but will proceed no further.”

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:

“Gird up your loins like a man;

I will question you, and you declare to me.

Will you even put me in the wrong?

Will you condemn me that you may be justified?

Job 40:1–8 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Then Yahweh answered Job and said,

“Shall a faultfinder contend with Shaddai?

Anyone who argues with God must answer it.”

So Job answered Yahweh and said,

“Look, I am insignificant.

What shall I answer you?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

Once I have spoken, and I will not answer;

even twice, but I will not proceed.”

Then Yahweh answered Job from the storm, and he said,

“Prepare yourself for a difficult task like a man,

and I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

“Indeed, would you annul my justice?

Would you condemn me, so that you might be righteous?

Job 40:1–8 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

The Lord continued,

“I am the Mighty One.

Will the man who argues with me correct me?

Let him who brings charges against me answer me!”

Job replied to the Lord,

“I’m not worthy. How can I reply to you?

I’m putting my hand over my mouth. I’ll stop talking.

I spoke once. But I really don’t have any answer.

I spoke twice. But I won’t say anything else.”

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said,

“Get ready to stand up for yourself.

I will ask you some more questions.

Then I want you to answer me.

“Would you dare to claim that I am not being fair?

Would you judge me in order to make yourself seem right?

Job 40:1–8 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Then the Lord said to Job,

“Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who reproves God answer it.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said,

Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?

I lay my hand on my mouth.

Once I have spoken, and I will not answer;

Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm and said,

Now gird up your loins like a man;

I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

“Will you really annul My judgment?

Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?


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