Job 9
1 And Job made answer and said,
Then 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?
I know it to be so of a truth: but how should 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 will contend with him, he cannot answer him one time out 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 hath prospered?
5 It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who 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 its pillars 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 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 waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
Who maketh Arcturus, Orion, and 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; yea, 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: he passeth on also, but 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 can hinder him? who will say to him, What doest thou?
13 God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do 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, and choose out my words to reason 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, but 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; yet I would not believe that he had hearkened to my voice.
17 For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
For he breaketh 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 will not allow me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
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?
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
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 justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, that also shall prove me perverse.
21 I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
Though I were 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.
This is one thing, therefore I said it, 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 shall slay suddenly, he will laugh 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 into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, and who is he?
25 My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food.
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to 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 put off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
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?
If 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 wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
Yet shalt 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 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, and we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.
Neither is there any mediator between us, that might 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 away his rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.
Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
