Job 9
1 And Job, responding, said:
Then Job answered and said:
2 Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
Of a truth I know that it is so; and how can man be just with God?
3 If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.
If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one of a thousand.
4 He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength; who hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?
5 He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things without number.
11 If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not. He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.
12 If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
Behold, He snatcheth away, who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him: 'What doest Thou?'
13 God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.
14 what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?
15 And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.
16 And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
If I had called, and He had answered me; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice —
17 For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;
18 He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.
19 If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?
20 If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
21 And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life.
22 There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
It is all one — therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
23 If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
24 Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not He, who then is it?
25 My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
26 They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.
27 If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
If I say: 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',
28 I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
29 Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.
Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32 For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.
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 who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His terror make me afraid;
35 I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
Then would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
