Job 9:14-31

New International Version

¹⁴ “How then can I dispute with him?
    How can I find words to argue with him?^(A)
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;^(B)
    I could only plead^(C) with my Judge^(D) for mercy.^(E)
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
    I do not believe he would give me a hearing.^(F)
17 He would crush me^(G) with a storm^(H)
    and multiply^(I) my wounds for no reason.^(J)
18 He would not let me catch my breath
    but would overwhelm me with misery.^(K)
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!^(L)
    And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him^[a]?^(M)
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
    if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.^(N)

²¹ “Although I am blameless,^(O)
    I have no concern for myself;^(P)
    I despise my own life.^(Q)
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
    ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’^(R)
23 When a scourge^(S) brings sudden death,
    he mocks the despair of the innocent.^(T)
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,^(U)
    he blindfolds its judges.^(V)
    If it is not he, then who is it?^(W)

²⁵ “My days are swifter than a runner;^(X)
    they fly away without a glimpse of joy.^(Y)
26 They skim past^(Z) like boats of papyrus,^(AA)
    like eagles swooping down on their prey.^(AB)
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,^(AC)
    I will change my expression, and smile,’
²⁸ I still dread^(AD) all my sufferings,
    for I know you will not hold me innocent.^(AE)
29 Since I am already found guilty,
    why should I struggle in vain?^(AF)
30 Even if I washed myself with soap^(AG)
    and my hands^(AH) with cleansing powder,^(AI)
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit^(AJ)
    so that even my clothes would detest me.^(AK)