Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then 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 that it is so; and 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 one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one 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 prospered?
5 He who removes the mountains, and they do not know it when he overturns them in his anger,
Who removeth the 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 her 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 sealeth up the stars.
8 who alone stretches out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea,
Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the 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; yea, marvellous things 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. He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.
12 Behold, he seizes; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What are thou doing?
Behold, He snatcheth away, who can 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 will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did 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, and choose out my arguments 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 Him that contendeth with me.
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; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice —
17 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;
18 He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.
19 If of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, who will summon me?
If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?
20 Though I be righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfect, I do not regard myself. I despise my life.
I am innocent — I regard not myself, I 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 say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
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 into the hand of the wicked; he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not He, who then is it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good,
Now 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 are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on 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 put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that thou will not hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
29 I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands ever so clean,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 yet thou will plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall 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 no arbiter betwixt us, that might 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 would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
