Job 9
1 And Job made answer and said,
And Job answered and said,
2 Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?
Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
3 If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.
If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
5 It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6 Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking:
Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7 Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
8 By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea:
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
9 Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.
Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11 See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
12 If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?
Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
14 How much less may I give an answer to him, using the right words in argument with him?
How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
15 Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
17 For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.
He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 If it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day?
Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
20 Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner.
If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
21 I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is all the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together.
It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If death comes suddenly through disease, he makes sport of the fate of those who have done no wrong.
If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done 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 My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.
And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food.
They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
27 If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright;
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
28 I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes.
I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?
Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I am washed with snow water, and make my hands clean with soap;
If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
31 Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
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 might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge.
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 one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.
There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me:
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
35 Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.
[Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
