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.
I know it is so truthfully: but how should man be just with God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.
If he will contend with him, he cannot 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 has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?
5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Which shakes 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:
Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.
Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea.
9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
Which does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.
Lo, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes 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 takes away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What do you?
13 God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do 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 words to reason 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, but 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; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
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 justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also 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.
Though I were 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.
This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys 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 slay suddenly, he will laugh 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 into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
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 post: 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 eagle that hastes to 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 heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
If I be wicked, why then labour I 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 shall you plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall detest 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, and we should come together in judgment.
33 There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.
Neither is there any arbitrator between 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 fear terrify me:
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; but it is not so with me.
