Job 9
1 Then Job answered,
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just before God?
3 If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
If he choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.
4 God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
He shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble.
7 He commands the sun and it does not rise, and seals up the stars.
He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
9 He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
10 He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful things without number.
11 Behold, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
Lo! he goeth by me, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou?
13 “God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before him.
14 How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
How much less shall I answer him, And choose out words to contend with him?
15 Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he listened to my voice.
Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
17 For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
He who falleth upon me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause!
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
Who will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness!
19 If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
If I look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
20 Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.
21 I am blameless. I do not respect myself. I despise my life.
Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; I would despise my life.
22 “It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
It is all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covereth the face of the judges thereof; If it be not He, who is it?
25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
26 They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his prey.
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
If I say, I will forget my lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
If I wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will 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 may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;
33 There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
Let him take from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
35 then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
