Job 9
1 And Job answered and said,
Then Job answered:
2 Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3 If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
5 Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.
12 Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.
17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.
18 He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.
19 Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
21 Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 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?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.
26 They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.
For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.
35 [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.
