< 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?
I know [it is] so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3 If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
If he will contend with him, he cannot 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 hath prospered?
5 Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
Which 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;
Which 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;
Which alone spreadeth 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;
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders 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 taketh 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:
[If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do 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 words [to reason] 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, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.
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 had hearkened unto my voice.
17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth 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 [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21 Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
[Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
This [is] one [thing], therefore I said [it], He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial 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 covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, [and] who [is] he?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
Now my days are swifter than a post: 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 eagle [that] hasteth to 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 leave off my heaviness, and comfort [myself: ]
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
[If] I be wicked, why then labour I 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 shalt 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, [and] we should come together in judgment.
33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
Neither is there any daysman 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 fear terrify me:
35 [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
[Then] would I speak, and not fear him; but [it is] not so with me.