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?
I know [it to be] so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3 If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
4 God 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 hath prospered?
5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who overturneth them in his anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and its pillars tremble.
7 He 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 He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
Who maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
Who doeth great things past finding out; yes, and wonders 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, and I see [him] not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
Behold, he taketh away, 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.
[If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under 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 my words [to reason] with him?
15 Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he listened to my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me; [yet] I would not believe that he had hearkened to my voice.
17 For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
For he breaketh 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.
He 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 speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?
20 Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, that also will prove me perverse.
21 I am blameless. I do not respect myself. I despise my life.
[Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 “It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge shall slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial 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 hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, [and] who [is] he?
25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle [that] hasteth to the 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 complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself]:
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
[If] I am wicked, why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and my 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, [and] we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
Neither is there any judge between us, [that] might 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 away his rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
[Then] would I speak, and not fear him; but [it is] not so with me.
