Job 9
1 And Job answered and said,
Then answered Job, and said,
2 Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
Truly I know that it is so: and how could 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 he were desirous to enter into a contest with him, he could not give him one answer out 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 of heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and escaped unscathed?
5 Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
[He it is] who removeth mountains, and they know it not, yea, 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 loose out of her place, that her pillars tremble;
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
Who speaketh to the sun, and he shineth not, and around the stars he placeth a seal;
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
Who spread out the heavens by himself alone, and treadeth upon the hillocks of the sea;
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers the south;
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
Who doth great things which are quite unsearchable, and wonders which are quite without number.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
Lo, were he to go past by me, I should not see him; and were he to pass along, I should not perceive him.
12 Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Behold, were he to snatch aught away, who could hold him back? who would say unto him, What dost thou?
13 God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
God will not withdraw his anger: beneath him sink down the helpers of the proud.
14 How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
How much less then could I answer him, and select my words [to contend] with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
Whom, were I even righteous, I could not answer? to him that condemneth me I could [only] make supplication.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
Or were I to call, and he would answer me, I could yet not believe that he would give ear unto my voice—
17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
He that bruiseth me with [his] tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without a cause.
18 He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
He suffereth me not to recover my breath; but feedeth me overmuch with bitter things.
19 Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
If it regard strength, lo, he is the powerful; and if justice, who will cite him for me to appear?
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
If I were righteous even, my own mouth would condemn me: were I innocent, it would still prove me perverse.
21 Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
I am innocent; I will not have regard for myself: I will despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
One thing is [certain], therefore have I said it, The innocent and the wicked he bringeth to their end.
23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
If a scourge should slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial 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?
Is a land given up into the hand of the wicked? he covereth the faces of its judges: if this be not the truth, who is it then?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
And my days pass swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no happiness,
26 They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
They hasten along like pirate ships: like the eagle that stoopeth down upon his food.
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 sorrowful countenance, and recover my cheerfulness:
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
O then would I be in dread of all my pains; I know that thou wilt not declare me innocent.
29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
I must ever be guilty: why then should I fatigue myself for nought?
30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
If I were to wash myself in snow-water, to cleanse myself in the purity of my hands:
31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
Even then wouldst thou plunge me in the ditch, that my own clothes would render me abhorred.
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 could answer him, that we should enter together into a contest.
33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
There is no one who can decide between us, who could 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 but remove from me his rod, and let not his dread 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; for the like I feel not within me.
