the need for repentance. Instead he wonders if it were possible to sue God for malfeasance, but (foreshadowing God’s own response to Job in chs. 38–41) acknowledges that God’s greatness in creation is proof alone that he could not win such a lawsuit (9:1–24). When Job contemplates finally the possibility of setting aside his complaint and going on with life, he doubts that would have any consequence either, assuming instead that God would still pursue him. His only hope, unreal as it may be, would