Job 9:20 - Exposition

If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me . Since he could not wholly justify himself. "All men have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" ( Romans 3:23 ). Job has already admitted the utterance of "rash words" ( Job 6:3 ), and, at least hypothetically, that he "has sinned" ( Job 7:20 ), and needs "pardon" for his "transgression" ( Job 7:1-21 :24). Job, if he tried to "justify himself," would have to acknowledge such shortcomings, such imperfections, such sins—at any rate, of infirmity—as would make his attempted justification a real self-condemnation. If I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse ; rather, even were I perfect , it ( i.e. my mouth) would prove me perverse ; i.e. supposing I were actually perfect, and tried to prove it, my speech would be so hesitating and confused, that I should only seem to be perverse.