Job 9
1 And Job answered, and said:
Then responded Job, and said—
2 Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
Of a truth, I know that so it is, But how can a mortal be just with 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, one of a thousand:
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace?
Wise in heart, and alert in vigour, What man 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 mountains, unawares, Who 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, shudder;
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 breaketh not forth, and, about the stars, he putteth a seal;
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.
Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, 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 marvels, beyond number.
11 If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.
Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?
Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
13 God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.
As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
14 What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?
How much less that, I, should answer him, should choose my words 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, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
16 And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.
Though I had called, and he had answered me, I could not believe, that he would lend an ear to my voice.
17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
He would not suffer me to recover my breath, for he would surfeit me with bitter things.
19 If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.
If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
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 should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn 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 blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
22 One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.
One thing, there is, for which cause, I have said it, The blameless and the lawless, he bringeth to an end.
23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
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, hath been given into the hand of a lawless one, The faces of her judges, he covereth, If not, then who is it?
25 My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.
My days, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
26 They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.
They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
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 lay aside 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 pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
30 If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:
Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,
Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should 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 like myself, whom I might answer, nor could we come together into judgment:
33 There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.
There is not, between us, a mediator, who 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 from off me his rod, and, his terror, let it not startle me:
35 I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
