Job 9
1 And Job, responding, said:
And Job answers and says:
2 Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
“Truly I have known that [it is] so, But how is man righteous 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 he delights to strive with Him—He does 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?
Wise in heart and strong in power—Who has hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who has overturned them in His anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
7 He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
Who is commanding to the sun, and it does not rise, And the stars He seals up.
8 He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
Making the Great Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
Doing great things until there is no searching, And wonderful, until there is no numbering.
11 If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
Behold, He goes over by me, and I do not see, And He passes on, and I do not attend to it.
12 If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
Behold, He snatches away, who brings it back? Who says to Him, What [are] You doing?
13 God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
God does not turn back His anger, Proud helpers have bowed under Him.
14 what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
How much less do I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
15 And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, For my judgment I make supplication.
16 And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
Though I had called and He answers me, I do not believe that He gives ear [to] my voice.
17 For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
Because He bruises me with a storm, And has multiplied my wounds for nothing.
18 He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
He does not permit me to refresh my spirit, But fills me with bitter things.
19 If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
If of power, behold, the Strong One; And if of judgment—who convenes me?
20 If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
If I am righteous, my mouth declares me wicked; [If] I am perfect, it declares 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 perfect; I do not know my soul, I despise my life.
22 There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
It is the same thing, therefore I said, He is consuming the perfect and the wicked.
23 If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
If a scourge puts to death suddenly, He laughs at the trial of the innocent.
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?
Earth has been given Into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of her judges, If not—where, who [is] he?
25 My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darts on food.
27 If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
Though I say, I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!
28 I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that You do not acquit me.
29 Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
I become wicked; why [is] this? I labor [in] vain.
30 If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified my hands with soap,
31 yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.
Then You dip me in corruption, And my garments have detested 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.
But if a man like myself—I answer Him, We come together into judgment.
33 There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
If there were a mediator between us, He places his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
He turns aside His rod from off me, And His terror does not make me afraid,
35 I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
I speak, and do not fear Him, but I am not right with myself.”
