Job 9:32–10:2

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32 “He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him,

that we might confront each other in court.

33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,

someone to bring us together,

34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,

so that his terror would frighten me no more.

35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,

but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

1 “I loathe my very life;

therefore I will give free rein to my complaint

and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,

but tell me what charges you have against me.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him,

And we should come together in judgment.

33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us,

That might lay his hand upon us both.

34 Let him take his rod away from me,

And let not his fear terrify me:

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him;

But it is not so with me.

1 My soul is weary of my life;

I will leave my complaint upon myself;

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me;

Shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

32 “God is not a mortal like me,

so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial.

33 If only there were a mediator between us,

someone who could bring us together.

34 The mediator could make God stop beating me,

and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment.

35 Then I could speak to him without fear,

but I cannot do that in my own strength.

1 “I am disgusted with my life.

Let me complain freely.

My bitter soul must complain.

2 I will say to God, ‘Don’t simply condemn me—

tell me the charge you are bringing against me.

32 “For He is not a man, as I am,

That I may answer Him,

And that we should go to court together.

33 Nor is there any mediator between us,

Who may lay his hand on us both.

34 Let Him take His rod away from me,

And do not let dread of Him terrify me.

35 Then I would speak and not fear Him,

But it is not so with me.

1 “My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint,

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;

Show me why You contend with me.

32 “God is not human like me, so I cannot answer him.

We cannot meet each other in court.

33 I wish there were someone to make peace between us,

someone to decide our case.

34 Maybe he could remove God’s punishment

so his terror would no longer frighten me.

35 Then I could speak without being afraid,

but I am not able to do that.

1 “I hate my life,

so I will complain without holding back;

I will speak because I am so unhappy.

2 I will say to God: Do not hold me guilty,

but tell me what you have against me.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him,

That we should come together in judgment.

33 There is no umpire betwixt us,

That might lay his hand upon us both.

34 Let him take his rod away from me,

And let not his terror make me afraid:

35 Then would I speak, and not fear him;

For I am not so in myself.

1 My soul is weary of my life;

I will give free course to my complaint;

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me;

Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.

32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment. 33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both. 34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid, 35 Then I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

1 My soul is weary of my life: I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say unto †God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou strivest with me.

32 A human like me cannot answer God, 

‘Let’s take our case to court.’ 

33 There is no mediator between us 

to put his hand on both of us. 

34 God should take his rod away from me, 

and he should not terrify me.

35 Then I would speak and not be afraid of him. 

But I know that I am not like that. 

1 “I hate my life. 

I will freely express my complaint. 

I will speak as bitterly as I feel. 

2 I will say to God, 

‘Don’t condemn me. 

Let me know why you are quarreling with me. 

32 For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him,

that we can take each other to court.

33 There is no one to judge between us,

to lay his hand on both of us.

34 Let Him take His rod away from me

so His terror will no longer frighten me.

35 Then I would speak and not fear Him.

But that is not the case; I am on my own.

1 I am disgusted with my life.

I will express my complaint

and speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I will say to God:

“Do not declare me guilty!

Let me know why You prosecute me.

32 For he is not a mortal, as I am, that I might answer him,

that we should come to trial together.

33 There is no mediator between us,

who might lay his hand on us both.

34 If he would take his rod away from me

and not let dread of him terrify me,

35 then I would speak without fear of him,

for I know I am not what I am thought to be.

1 “I loathe my life;

I will give free utterance to my complaint;

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;

let me know why you contend against me.

32 “For he is not a mortal like me that I can answer him,

that we can come to trial together.

33 There is no arbiter between us

that he might lay his hand on both of us.

34 May he remove his rod from me,

and let his dread not terrify me;

35 then I would speak and not fear him,

for in myself I am not fearful.

1 “My inner self loathes my life;

I want to give vent to my complaint;

I want to speak out of the bitterness of my inner self.

2 I will say to God, ‘You should not condemn me;

let me know why you contend against me.

32 “God isn’t a man like me. I can’t answer him.

We can’t take each other to court.

33 I wish someone would settle matters between us.

I wish someone would force us to work things out.

34 I wish someone would keep God from punishing me.

Then his terror wouldn’t frighten me anymore.

35 I would speak up without being afraid of him.

But as things stand now, I can’t do that.

1 “I’m sick of living.

So I’ll talk openly about my problems.

I’ll speak out because my spirit is bitter.

2 I’ll say to God, ‘Don’t find me guilty.

Instead, tell me what charges

you are bringing against me.

32 “For He is not a man as I am that I may answer Him,

That we may go to court together.

33 “There is no umpire between us,

Who may lay his hand upon us both.

34 “Let Him remove His rod from me,

And let not dread of Him terrify me.

35 “Then I would speak and not fear Him;

But I am not like that in myself.

1 “I loathe my own life;

I will give full vent to my complaint;

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

2 “I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;

Let me know why You contend with me.