Job 9:16-35

16He might agree to meet with me in court. But I do not believe that he would listen to me.

17He would attack me with a strong storm. He would hurt me even more, for no reason.

18He would not allow me to breathe quietly. Instead, he would make me very upset.

19If I tried to fight God, he is much stronger than I am. And if I ask for justice, who can bring God to court?

20I am right. I have not done anything that is wrong. But my words would say that I am guilty.

21I have not done anything that is wrong. But it does not matter what happens to me. My life is not important to me.

22The same thing happens to good people and to wicked people. So I say, “God destroys people who are not guilty as well as those who are guilty.”

23When disease comes, people may die suddenly. God laughs at good people who suffer like that.

24A wicked man may have power to rule a nation. Then God stops the judges from being fair. It must be God who does that. Who else could it be?

25The days of my life are passing very quickly, like a fast runner. None of my days makes me happy.

26My days go past like a fast boat on a river. They move quickly like an eagle when it flies down to catch its food.

27I may try to be happy and to smile. I may try to forget about my troubles.

28Even then, I will be afraid of all my pain. God, I know that you think I am guilty.

29So, if I am guilty, it is useless to do anything about it.

30I might wash myself with pure water. I might clean my hands with soap.

31But then God would throw me down into a dirty hole. Even my own clothes would be ashamed of me!

32God is not a human, as I am. So I cannot answer him. We cannot argue with each other in court.

33There is nobody who can decide which of us is right. Nobody has authority to judge both of us.

34Nobody can stop God from punishing me. If that were possible, I would not be afraid any more.

35I would speak to God and I would not be afraid. But now I cannot do that.