< Job 9 >
1 Then Job answered and said,
And Job answered and said,
2 Of a truth I know that it is so. But how can man be just with God?
Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
3 If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
5 He who removes the mountains, and they do not know it when he overturns them in his anger,
Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble,
Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise, and seals up the stars,
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
8 who alone stretches out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea,
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
9 who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south,
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 who does great things past finding out, yea, marvelous things without number.
Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He also passes on, but I do not perceive him.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he seizes; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What are thou doing?
Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet I would not answer. I would make supplication to my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
17 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 If of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, who will summon me?
Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
20 Though I be righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfect, I do not regard myself. I despise my life.
Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is all one thing. Therefore I say, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of the judges of it. If not he, who then is it?
The earth is given over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good,
And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint. I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer,
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that thou will not hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands ever so clean,
If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
31 yet thou will plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no umpire between us who might lay his hand upon us both.
There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid.
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
35 Then I would speak, and not be afraid of him, for I am not so in myself.
[Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.