Job 9
1 And Job answered, and said:
Job replied,
2 Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
“Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.
If you wanted to argue with God, God could ask a thousand questions that no-one could answer.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace?
God is so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
God moves the mountains suddenly; he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
He shakes the earth, making its foundations quake.
7 Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal:
He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.
He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
11 If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.
But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?
If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.
God does not restrain his anger; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
14 What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?
So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
15 I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.
Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
16 And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.
Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
19 If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.
If it's a question of strength, then God is the strongest. If it's a question of justice, then who will set a time for my case?
20 If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.
Even though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
21 Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.
I am innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
22 One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.
That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
When disaster strikes suddenly he mocks the despair 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 has been handed over to the wicked; he blinds the eyes of the judges—if it's not him who does this, then who is it?
25 My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.
The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
26 They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.
They pass by like fast sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.
If I said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
30 If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:
Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,
you would toss me into a slime pit so that even my own clothes would hate 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 God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
33 There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.
If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.
I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
35 I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
