Job prays for a referee

 
Thousands of years ago, people thought terrible hardships meant a person had sinned against an avenging god. Obviously, Job’s friends had been taught to think that way, but Job knew he’d done nothing to disobey God, and he could think of nothing that might even have offended the Lord.
 
In this prayer, Job longs for a mediator, an advocate, an umpire, a referee – someone to stand between himself and God, interpret as needed, and restore them into fellowship. 

Centuries later that Mediator came to earth as our go-between – Jesus Christ, The One Who forgives and forever reunites us with the Almighty God.

 
Job 9:25-35 – a prayer of Job
in contemporary English
 
My life sprints by like a runner – so swiftly
it’s hard to catch a glimpse of happiness.
Life vanishes like a speedy little boat made of paper
or like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
If I made up my mind to forget my complaints
and put away a sad face to be cheerful,
I would still shudder with pain.
 
O, God, I know You’ll never say I’m innocent!
No matter what, I will be found guilty,
so why should I even try?
 
If I scoured myself with soap
and washed my hands with lye,
You might thrust me into a muddy ditch,
so even my clothes would hate my filth!
 
God, You’re not a regular person like me,
so how can I argue my case? How can I
take You to trial?
 
Oh, if only a Mediator stood between us –
someone who could bring us together again.
 
From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected from a variety of translations researched on Bible Gateway then paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019
 
 
Job 9:25-35 – a prayer of Job
from the King James Version
 
Now my days are swifter than a post:
they flee away, they see no good.
 
They are passed away as the swift ships:
as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
If I say, I will forget my complaint,
I will leave off my heaviness,
and comfort myself: I am afraid
of all my sorrows, I know that thou
wilt not hold me innocent.
 
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
 
If I wash myself with snow water, and
make my hands never so clean;
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch,
and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
 
For he ( God) is not a man, as I am,
that I should answer him, and we should
come together in judgment.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us,
that might lay his hand upon us both.

From the Book of KJV Prayers - actual prayers from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019 
 
…
 

Job prays through to God

For many days, Job sat in shock, pain, and anger, looking for answers while listening to friends who didn’t believe in his innocence nor get why he kept questioning God. Although the Lord did not directly answer Job’s questions, His very presence quieted Job’s need to know.

 

Job 42:1-6 – a prayer of Job
from the King James Version of the Bible

 

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

 

I know that thou canst do every thing,

and that no thought can be

withholden from thee.

 

Who is he that hideth counsel

without knowledge? therefore

have I uttered that I understood not;

things too wonderful for me,

which I knew not.

 

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak:

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

 

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear:

but now mine eye seeth thee.

 

Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

 

From the Book of KJV Prayers - actual prayers from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019 

 

 

Job 42:1-6 – a prayer of Job
in contemporary English

 

Lord, I know You can do anything!

No plan of Yours can be thwarted.

 

You asked why my ignorance hides

me from seeing Your view.

All I can say is, I didn’t understand

things too wonderful to know.

 

You told me to listen,

and You would speak.

 

You told me to answer Your questions

as I wanted You to answer mine!

 

I’ve heard a lot about You, Lord,

but now I’ve seen You for myself.

 

And so I take back my words

that questioned You, and I

repent in dust and ashes.

 

From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected from a variety of translations researched on Bible Gateway then paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019