Job 9:2

Modern

“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

Traditional

I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Literal

“Truly I know that it is so. But how can a man be righteous with God?

Latin

Vere scio quod ita sit, et quod non justificetur homo compositus Deo.

Hebrew

English

“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?

Job answered Bildad by describing God's universal and legal power. His speech resembles a complex legal case.

It includes:

A summons and response (9:3, 14–16, 19b, 32).
The risk of proving himself guilty (9:20).
A "mediator" (9:33–34).
A question of accusation (9:12).
A legal sentence (9:22).
A declaration of guilt (9:28–30).

Job 4:17
‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God, or a man more pure than his Maker?
Romans 3:20
Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.
Job 25:4
How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?
Psalm 143:2
Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
Job 32:2
This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God,
Job 34:5
For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
Job 14:3–4
Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
Psalm 130:3
If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?
Job 33:9
‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, with no iniquity in me.
1 Kings 8:46
When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God