Job 9:15
New International Version
Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.

New Living Translation
Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy.

English Standard Version
Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.

Berean Standard Bible
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

King James Bible
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

New King James Version
For though I were righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy of my Judge.

New American Standard Bible
“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my Judge.

NASB 1995
“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

NASB 1977
“For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.

Legacy Standard Bible
For though I were right, I could not answer; I would have to plead for the grace of my judge.

Amplified Bible
“For though I were righteous, I could not answer. I must appeal for mercy to my Opponent and Judge.

Christian Standard Bible
Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Even if I were in the right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

American Standard Version
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
If I am not justified, I will not be heard, and to my Judge I shall make supplication

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For though I be righteous, he will not hearken to me: I will intreat his judgment.

Contemporary English Version
Even though I am innocent, I can only beg for mercy.

Douay-Rheims Bible
I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.

English Revised Version
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to mine adversary.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even if I were right, I could not answer [him]. I would have to plead for mercy from my judge.

Good News Translation
Though I am innocent, all I can do is beg for mercy from God my judge.

International Standard Version
Even if I'm in the right, I cannot answer him. I can only appeal for mercy.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.

Literal Standard Version
Whom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, | For my judgment I make supplication.

Majority Standard Bible
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.

New American Bible
Even though I were right, I could not answer, but should rather beg for what was due me.

NET Bible
Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.

New Revised Standard Version
Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.

New Heart English Bible
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn't answer him. I would make petition to my judge.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

World English Bible
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.

Young's Literal Translation
Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Job: How Can I Argue with God?
14How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him? 15For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy. 16If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.…

Cross References
Job 8:5
But if you would earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy,

Job 9:16
If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.

Job 9:20
Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.

Job 9:21
Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.

Job 10:15
If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.

Job 40:5
I have spoken once, but I have no answer--twice, but I have nothing to add."


Treasury of Scripture

Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

though

Job 10:15
If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;

1 Corinthians 4:4
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

I would

Job 5:8
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

Job 8:5
If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;

Job 10:2
I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.

my judge

Job 23:7
There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

1 Peter 2:23
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

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Able Accuser Appeal Cause Contendeth Good Grace Implore Innocent Judge Judgment Mercy Plead Request Right Righteous Supplication Wouldn't
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Able Accuser Appeal Cause Contendeth Good Grace Implore Innocent Judge Judgment Mercy Plead Request Right Righteous Supplication Wouldn't
Job 9
1. Job acknowledges God's justice
22. Man's innocence is not to be condemned by afflictions














(15) Though I were righteous.--He now puts the alternative case: that he were actually righteous; yet even then supplication, and not assertion, would best become him.

Verse 15. - Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer. Even perfect righteousness, so far as possible in a creature, would not enable a non to stand up in controversy with him who "charges his angels with folly" (Job 4:18); and, moreover, to such righteousness Job does not pretend (see Job 7:20, 21). But I would make supplication to my Judge; rather, to mine adversary (see the Revised Version). Prayer is the only rightful attitude of even the best man before his Maker - prayer for mercy, prayer for pardon prayer for grace, prayer for advance in holiness.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

even if
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I were right,
צָ֭דַקְתִּי (ṣā·ḏaq·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous

I could not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

answer.
אֶעֱנֶ֑ה (’e·‘ĕ·neh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

I could only beg my Judge
לִ֝מְשֹׁפְטִ֗י (lim·šō·p̄ə·ṭî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

for mercy.
אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃ (’eṯ·ḥan·nān)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2603: To bend, stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, bestow, to implore


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OT Poetry: Job 9:15 Though I were righteous yet I wouldn't (Jb)
Job 9:14
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