Job 9
1 And Job answered, and said:
And Job answered and said,
2 Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.
If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace?
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7 Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal:
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11 If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?
Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.
God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
14 What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?
How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
15 I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
16 And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.
Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
20 If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.
If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
21 Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.
Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.
It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then?
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?
25 My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.
And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.
They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
27 If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:
If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,
Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would abhor me.
32 For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally 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 none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.
There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
35 I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
[Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
