Job 9:21
19 If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him ?
20 Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22 It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
- KJV
- Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
- WEB
- I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.
- ASV
- I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
- DARBY
- Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
- BLB
- I [am] blameless; I do not know my soul; I despise my life.
- ÅB
- Skyldløs er jeg; jeg bryr meg ikke om å leve - jeg forakter mitt liv.
- OTB
- Jeg er skyldfri, men jeg bryr meg ikke om meg selv;
jeg forakter mitt liv. - B1930
- Skyldløs er jeg; jeg bryr mig ikke om å leve - jeg forakter mitt liv.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 1:1
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And this man was blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil.
Read in contextPsalms 139:23–24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.
Read in context1 Corinthians 4:4
My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
Read in contextJob 7:21
Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
Read in contextProverbs 28:26
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.
Read in contextJeremiah 17:9–10
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Read in contextJob 7:15–16
so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
Read in context1 John 3:20
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
Read in context