Knowing Your Needs

^[1] Then Job replied: ^[2] “Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? ^[3] Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. ^[4] His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? ^[5] He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. ^[6] He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. ^[7] He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. ^[8] He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. ^[9] He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. ^[10] He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. ^[11] When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. ^[12] If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ ^[13] God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet. ^[14] “How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? ^[15] Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. ^[16] Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. ^[17] He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. ^[18] He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. ^[19] If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? ^[20] Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty. ^[21] “Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. ^[22] It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ ^[23] When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. ^[24] When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it? ^[25] “My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. ^[26] They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey. ^[27] If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’ ^[28] I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent. ^[29] Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain? ^[30] Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder, ^[31] you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me. ^[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. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.