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?
“I truly know that this is so. But how can a person be in the right with God?
3 If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
If he wants to argue with God, he cannot answer him once in a thousand times.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has ever hardened himself against him and succeeded?—
5 He who removes the mountains, and they do not know it when he overturns them in his anger,
he who removes the mountains without warning anyone when he overturns them in his anger—
6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble,
he who shakes the earth out of its place and sets its supports trembling.
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise, and seals up the stars,
It is the same God who tells the sun not to rise, and it does not, and who covers up the stars,
8 who alone stretches out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea,
who by himself stretches out the heavens and tramples down the waves of the sea,
9 who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south,
who makes the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the south.
10 who does great things past finding out, yea, marvelous things without number.
He does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things that cannot be counted.
11 Lo, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He also passes on, but I do not perceive him.
See, he goes by me, and I do not see him; he passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he seizes; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What are thou doing?
If he takes something away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
13 God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
God will not withdraw his anger; the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
How much less could I answer him, could I choose words to reason with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet I would not answer. I would make supplication to my judge.
Even if I were righteous, I could not answer him; I could only plead for mercy with my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice.
Even if I called and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
For he breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
He does not allow me to regain my breath; but he fills me with bitterness.
19 If of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, who will summon me?
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?
20 Though I be righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; and though I am blameless, my words would prove me to be guilty.
21 Though I were perfect, I do not regard myself. I despise my life.
I am blameless, but I do not care any more about myself; I despise my own life.
22 It is all one thing. Therefore I say, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
It makes no difference, which is why I say that he destroys blameless people and wicked people together.
23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
When a whip suddenly kills, he mocks the despair 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 into the hand of wicked people; God covers the faces of its judges. If it is not he who does it, then who is it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good,
My days are swifter than a running messenger; my days flee away; they see no good anywhere.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
They are as fast as papyrus reed boats, and as fast as the eagle that swoops down on its victim.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint. I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer,
If I said that I would forget about my complaints, that I would take off my sad face and be happy,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that thou will not hold me innocent.
I would be afraid of all my sorrows because I know that you will not consider me innocent.
29 I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
I will be condemned; why, then, should I try 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 made my hands ever so clean,
31 yet thou will plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
God would plunge me in a ditch, and my own clothes would be disgusted with me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
For God is not a man, as I am, that I could answer him, that we could come together in court.
33 There is no umpire between us who might lay his hand upon us both.
There is no judge between us who might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid.
There is no other judge who could take God's rod off me, who could keep his terror from frightening me.
35 Then I would speak, and not be afraid of him, for I am not so in myself.
Then would I speak up and not fear him. But as things are now, I cannot do that.
