Job 9
1 And Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said:
2 Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
Of a truth I know that it is so; and how can man be just with God?
3 If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength; who hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?
5 Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not. He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.
12 Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Behold, He snatcheth away, who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him: 'What doest Thou?'
13 God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
If I had called, and He had answered me; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice —
17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
He that would break 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.
That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill 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 be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
21 Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
It is all one — therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
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 covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not He, who then is it?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
26 They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
If I say: 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor 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, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might 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 take His rod away from me, and let not His terror make me afraid;
35 [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
