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Job 9
Common English Bible
Job 9
Common English Bible
Hymnic praise
9 Job responded:
2 I know for certain that this is so;
and how can anyone be innocent before God?
3 If one wants to contend with him,
he won’t answer one in a thousand.
4 He is wise[a] and powerful;
who can resist him and prosper?
5 Who removes mountains, and they are unaware;
who overthrows them in anger?
6 Who shakes the earth from its place,
and its pillars shudder?
7 Who commands the sun, and it does not rise,
even seals up the stars;
8 stretched out the heavens alone
and trod on the waves of the Sea;[b]
9 made the Bear and Orion, Pleiades
and the southern constellations;
10 does great and unsearchable things,
wonders beyond number?
A mismatch
11 If God goes by me, I can’t see him;
he glides past, and I can’t perceive him.
12 If he seizes, who can bring back?
Who can say to him, “What are you doing?”
13 God won’t retract his anger;
the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.
14 Yet I myself will answer him;
I’ll choose my words in a contest[c] with him.
15 Even if I’m innocent, I can’t answer;
I must plead for justice.
16 If I were to call and he answered me,
I couldn’t believe that he heard my voice.
17 Who bruises me with a tempest
and multiplies my wounds for no reason?
18 He doesn’t let me catch my breath,
for he fills me with bitterness.
19 If the issue is strength—behold power!
If justice—who calls God to meet me?
There is no justice
20 If I’m innocent, my mouth condemns me;
I have integrity; but God declares me perverse.
21 I’m blameless, yet don’t know myself;
I reject my life.
22 It’s all the same;
therefore, I say God destroys the blameless and the sinners.
23 If calamity suddenly kills,
he mocks at the slaying[d] of innocents.
24 The earth is handed over to the wicked;
he covers the faces of its judges.
If not God, then who does?
Job wants an arbitrator
25 My days are swifter than a runner;
they flee and don’t experience good.
26 They sweep by like ships made of reeds,
as an eagle swoops on prey.
27 If I say, “I’ll forget my lament,
put on a different face so I can smile,”
28 I’m still afraid of all my suffering;
I know that you won’t declare me innocent.
29 I myself am thought guilty;
why have I tried so hard in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow,
purify my hands with soap,
31 then you’ll hurl me into a slimy pit
so that my clothes detest me.
32 God is not a man like me—someone I could answer—
so that we could come together in court.
33 Oh, that[e] there were a mediator between us;
he would lay his hand on both of us,
34 remove his rod from me,
so his fury wouldn’t frighten me.
35 Then I would speak—unafraid—
for I’m not that way.
Job 9
New International Version
Job 9
New International Version
Job
9 Then Job replied:
2 “Indeed, I know that this is true.
But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?(A)
3 Though they wished to dispute with him,(B)
they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.(C)
4 His wisdom(D) is profound, his power is vast.(E)
Who has resisted(F) him and come out unscathed?(G)
5 He moves mountains(H) without their knowing it
and overturns them in his anger.(I)
6 He shakes the earth(J) from its place
and makes its pillars tremble.(K)
7 He speaks to the sun and it does not shine;(L)
he seals off the light of the stars.(M)
8 He alone stretches out the heavens(N)
and treads on the waves of the sea.(O)
9 He is the Maker(P) of the Bear[a] and Orion,
the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.(Q)
10 He performs wonders(R) that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.(S)
11 When he passes me, I cannot see him;
when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.(T)
12 If he snatches away, who can stop him?(U)
Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’(V)
13 God does not restrain his anger;(W)
even the cohorts of Rahab(X) cowered at his feet.
14 “How then can I dispute with him?
How can I find words to argue with him?(Y)
15 Though I were innocent, I could not answer him;(Z)
I could only plead(AA) with my Judge(AB) for mercy.(AC)
16 Even if I summoned him and he responded,
I do not believe he would give me a hearing.(AD)
17 He would crush me(AE) with a storm(AF)
and multiply(AG) my wounds for no reason.(AH)
18 He would not let me catch my breath
but would overwhelm me with misery.(AI)
19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!(AJ)
And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him[b]?(AK)
20 Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me;
if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.(AL)
21 “Although I am blameless,(AM)
I have no concern for myself;(AN)
I despise my own life.(AO)
22 It is all the same; that is why I say,
‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’(AP)
23 When a scourge(AQ) brings sudden death,
he mocks the despair of the innocent.(AR)
24 When a land falls into the hands of the wicked,(AS)
he blindfolds its judges.(AT)
If it is not he, then who is it?(AU)
25 “My days are swifter than a runner;(AV)
they fly away without a glimpse of joy.(AW)
26 They skim past(AX) like boats of papyrus,(AY)
like eagles swooping down on their prey.(AZ)
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,(BA)
I will change my expression, and smile,’
28 I still dread(BB) all my sufferings,
for I know you will not hold me innocent.(BC)
29 Since I am already found guilty,
why should I struggle in vain?(BD)
30 Even if I washed myself with soap(BE)
and my hands(BF) with cleansing powder,(BG)
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit(BH)
so that even my clothes would detest me.(BI)
32 “He is not a mere mortal(BJ) like me that I might answer him,(BK)
that we might confront each other in court.(BL)
33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,(BM)
someone to bring us together,(BN)
34 someone to remove God’s rod from me,(BO)
so that his terror would frighten me no more.(BP)
35 Then I would speak up without fear of him,(BQ)
but as it now stands with me, I cannot.(BR)
Job 9
English Standard Version
Job 9
English Standard Version
Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter
9 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Truly I know that it is so:
But how can a man be (A)in the right before God?
3 If one wished to (B)contend with him,
one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
4 He is (C)wise in heart and mighty in strength—
who has (D)hardened himself against him, and succeeded?—
5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not,
when he overturns them in his anger,
6 who (E)shakes the earth out of its place,
and (F)its pillars tremble;
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise;
who seals up the stars;
8 who alone (G)stretched out the heavens
and trampled the waves of the sea;
9 who (H)made (I)the Bear and (J)Orion,
the Pleiades (K)and the chambers of the south;
10 who does (L)great things beyond searching out,
and marvelous things beyond number.
11 Behold, he passes by me, and I (M)see him not;
he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away; (N)who can turn him back?
(O)Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 “God will not turn back his anger;
beneath him bowed the helpers of (P)Rahab.
14 (Q)How then can I (R)answer him,
choosing my words with him?
15 (S)Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him;
I must (T)appeal for mercy to my accuser.[a]
16 If I summoned him and he answered me,
I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he crushes me with a tempest
and multiplies my wounds (U)without cause;
18 he will not let me get my breath,
but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a contest of (V)strength, behold, he is mighty!
If it is a matter of justice, who can (W)summon him?[b]
20 Though I am in the right, (X)my own mouth would condemn me;
though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
21 I am (Y)blameless; I regard not myself;
I (Z)loathe my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He (AA)destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 When (AB)disaster brings sudden death,
he mocks at the calamity[c] of the innocent.
24 (AC)The earth is given into the hand of the wicked;
he (AD)covers the faces of its judges—
(AE)if it is not he, who then is it?
25 “My (AF)days are swifter than (AG)a runner;
they flee away; they see no good.
26 They go by like (AH)skiffs of reed,
like (AI)an eagle swooping on the prey.
27 If I say, (AJ)‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put off my sad face, and (AK)be of good cheer,’
28 I become (AL)afraid of all my suffering,
for I know you will not (AM)hold me innocent.
29 I shall be (AN)condemned;
why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow
and (AO)cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you will plunge me into a pit,
and my own clothes will (AP)abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him,
that we should (AQ)come to trial together.
33 (AR)There is no[d] arbiter between us,
who might lay his hand on us both.
34 (AS)Let him take his (AT)rod away from me,
and let (AU)not dread of him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak without fear of him,
for I am not so in myself.
Job 9
La Bible du Semeur
Job 9
La Bible du Semeur
Réponse de Job à Bildad
Dieu est le plus fort
9 Alors Job prit la parole et dit :
2 Oui, certes, je le sais, ╵il en est bien ainsi :
comment un homme ╵serait-il juste devant Dieu[a] ?
3 Qui donc s’aviserait ╵de plaider contre lui ?
Même une fois sur mille, ╵il ne pourra répondre[b].
4 Dieu est riche en sagesse, ╵et puissante est sa force.
Qui pourrait le braver ╵et s’en sortir indemne ?
5 Lui qui déplace les montagnes ╵sans qu’elles ne s’en doutent
et les renverse en sa colère,
6 il fait trembler la terre ╵jusqu’en ses fondations :
ses colonnes chancellent.
7 Il ordonne au soleil ╵de ne pas se lever[c],
et met sous scellés les étoiles.
8 Lui seul déploie le ciel
et marche sur la mer, ╵sur ses plus hautes vagues.
9 Il a fait la Grande Ourse, ╵Orion et les Pléiades[d],
et les constellations australes.
10 Il accomplit des œuvres ╵grandioses, insondables,
et des prodiges innombrables[e].
11 S’il passait près de moi, ╵je ne le verrais pas,
puis il s’éloignerait, ╵je ne m’en apercevrais pas.
12 Qui peut lui retirer ╵la proie qu’il prend de force ?
Qui osera lui dire : ╵« Que fais-tu là ? »
13 Dieu ne retient pas sa colère.
Et devant lui s’effondrent ╵tous les appuis de l’orgueilleux[f].
14 Combien moins oserais-je ╵lui donner la réplique,
et quels mots choisirais-je ╵pour plaider avec lui ?
15 Même si je suis juste, ╵je ne peux rien répondre.
Je ne puis qu’implorer ╵la pitié de mon juge.
16 Si même, à mon appel, ╵il daignait me répondre,
je ne pourrais quand même ╵pas croire qu’il m’écoute,
17 car il m’a assailli ╵par un vent de tempête,
il a multiplié ╵mes blessures sans cause.
18 Il ne me permet pas ╵de reprendre mon souffle,
tant il me rassasie de fiel.
19 Recourir à la force ? ╵Mais il est le plus fort.
Ou faire appel au droit ? ╵Qui donc l’assignera[g] ?
20 Si j’étais juste, ╵ma bouche même me condamnerait.
Si j’étais innocent, ╵ma bouche me donnerait tort.
21 Suis-je vraiment intègre ? ╵Je ne sais où j’en suis :
je méprise ma vie.
22 Que m’importe, après tout ! ╵C’est pourquoi j’ose dire :
« Il détruit aussi bien ╵l’innocent que l’impie. »
23 Quand survient un fléau ╵qui tue soudainement,
Dieu se rit des épreuves ╵qui atteignent les justes.
24 Quand il livre un pays ╵au pouvoir des méchants,
il en aveugle tous les juges.
Et si ce n’est pas lui, ╵alors, qui est-ce donc ?
25 Mes jours ont fui plus vite ╵qu’un agile coureur,
ils se sont écoulés, ╵mais sans voir le bonheur,
26 ils ont glissé, rapides ╵comme un esquif de jonc[h],
comme le vol d’un aigle ╵qui fonce sur sa proie.
27 Si même je me dis : ╵« Laisse donc de côté ta plainte,
va, change de visage, ╵ressaisis-toi ! »,
28 je redoute tous mes tourments
car je sais bien ╵que tu ne me traiteras pas ╵en innocent.
29 Je serai tenu pour coupable !
Alors, pourquoi devrais-je ╵me donner tant de peine en vain ?
30 J’aurais beau me laver ╵avec de l’eau de neige,
oui, j’aurais beau me nettoyer ╵les mains avec de la potasse[i],
31 toi tu me plongerais ╵dans un bourbier fangeux
pour que mes habits mêmes ╵me prennent en horreur.
32 Car il n’est pas ╵un homme comme moi, ╵pour que je lui réplique
ou pour que nous comparaissions ╵ensemble au tribunal.
33 Il n’y a pas[j] d’arbitre ╵pouvant s’interposer
et trancher entre nous,
34 qui détournerait de moi son bâton
pour que les terreurs qu’il me cause ╵ne m’épouvantent plus !
35 Alors je parlerai ╵sans avoir peur de lui.
Mais ce n’est pas le cas, ╵je suis tout seul avec moi-même !
Footnotes
- 9.2 Autre traduction : aurait-il gain de cause dans un contentieux avec Dieu ?
- 9.3 Autre traduction : Dieu ne lui répondra pas.
- 9.7 Eclipse ou obscurcissement par des nuages.
- 9.9 Constellations mentionnées aussi en 38.31-32, les deux dernières dans Am 5.8.
- 9.10 Reprise de l’affirmation d’Eliphaz en 5.9.
- 9.13 D’autres comprennent : les alliés du monstre des mers.
- 9.19 D’après l’ancienne version grecque ; le texte hébreu traditionnel a : me fera comparaître.
- 9.26 Allusion aux embarcations égyptiennes faites de tiges de papyrus ou de jonc tressées (Ex 2.3).
- 9.30 Ou : de la soude. Ou bien il pourrait encore s’agir d’une plante utilisée pour nettoyer.
- 9.33 Certains manuscrits hébreux, l’ancienne version grecque et la version syriaque ont compris : au moins s’il y avait.
Common English Bible (CEB)
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
La Bible du Semeur (BDS)
La Bible Du Semeur (The Bible of the Sower) Copyright © 1992, 1999 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.