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: For how can man be just before God?
3 If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
If he choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
He is excellent in wisdom, 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;
He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
He 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;
He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
10 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful 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, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou?
13 God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before 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 words to contend with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
17 He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
He who falleth upon 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.
Who 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 look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.
21 Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; I would despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
It is all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
23 If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings 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 hands of the wicked; He covereth the face of the judges thereof; If it be not He, who is it?
25 And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
26 They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his 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 lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?
30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
If I wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will 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 may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;
33 There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
There is no umpire between us, Who may 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 from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
35 [Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
