Job 9
1 And Job made answer and said,
Then Job answered,
2 Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?
“Truly I know that 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 is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in 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?
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5 It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking:
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.
He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.
8 By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea:
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10 Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvellous things without number.
11 See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him.
Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
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 snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab 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 will I answer him, and choose my words to argue 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.
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. 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 wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17 For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies 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 catch my breath, but fills 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 it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
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.
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21 I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I 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 the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless 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 kills suddenly, he will mock 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 covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
25 My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.
“Now 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 have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on 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 sad face, and cheer 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 you will not hold me innocent.
29 You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?
I will be condemned. 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, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will 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 judgement.
33 There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on 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. Let his terror not 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 would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
