Job 9
1 And Job answered, and said:
Then 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 that it is so; and how can man be just with God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.
If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one 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 prospered?
5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
Who removeth the 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 her 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 sealeth up the stars.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.
Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the 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; yea, marvellous things 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. He passeth on also, but 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 snatcheth away, who can 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 will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did 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, and choose out my arguments 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 Him that contendeth with me.
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; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice —
17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;
18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.
19 If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.
If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint 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.
Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall 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.
I am innocent — I regard not myself, I 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 say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
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 into the hand of the wicked; he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not He, who then is it?
25 My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.
Now 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 are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on 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 put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',
28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
I shall be condemned; 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 wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,
Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall 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 no arbiter betwixt us, that might 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 would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
