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: For how can man be just before God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for 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 resisted him, and hath had peace?
He is excellent in wisdom, 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.
He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
He 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:
He 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.
He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful 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, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?
Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to 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 turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before 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 words to contend with him?
15 I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but 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 And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.
Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
He who falleth upon me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause!
18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
Who will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth 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 look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
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 were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, 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.
Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; 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 will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings 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 hands of the wicked; He covereth the face of the judges thereof; If it be not He, who is it?
25 My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.
My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
26 They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.
They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his 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 lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor 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 in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,
Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will 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 may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;
33 There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between 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 fear terrify me.
Let him take from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
35 I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
