King James Version

Job 9:20

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

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Hebrew

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אִםimoh thatאִםconjunction — “oh that”H518used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not(and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), t…אֶ֭צְדָּקetsdaqcleanseצָדַקverb, qal, imperfect, 1st person, common, singular — “cleanse”, an unfinished actionH6663to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)cleanse, clear self, (be, do) just(-ice, -ify, -ify self), (be turn to) righteous(-ness).פִּ֣יpiedgeפֶּהnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “edge”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6310the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according toaccord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] s…יַרְשִׁיעֵ֑נִיyarshienibe wickedרָשַׁעverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “be wicked”, an unfinished actionH7561to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violatecondemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked(-ly, -ness).תָּֽםtamcoupled togetherתָּםadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “coupled together”, the ordinary formH8535complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically, gentle, dearcoupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled, upright.אָ֝֗נִיanimineאֲנִיpronoun, personal, 1st person, common, singular — “mine”H589II, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who.וַֽיַּעְקְשֵֽׁנִיvayaqesheniand perverseעָקַשׁconjunction, verb, hiphil, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “and perverse”, the next action in the storyH6140to knot or distort; figuratively, to pervert (act or declare perverse)make crooked, (prove, that is) perverse(-rt).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.

Young’s Literal Translation

If I be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! — it declareth me perverse.

World English Bible

Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.

Darby Translation

If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.

Douay-Rheims

If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For though I should seem righteous, my mouth will be profane: and though I should seem blameless, I shall be proved perverse.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ἐὰν γὰρ ὦ δίκαιος, τὸ στόμα μου ἀσεβήσει· ἐάν τε ᾧ ἄμεμπτος, σκολιὸς ἀποβήσομαι.