Job 9
1 And Job answered, and said:
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
Truly I have known that [it is] so, And what — is man righteous with God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.
If he delight to strive with Him — He doth 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?
Wise in heart and strong in power — Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
7 Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal:
Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.
Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.
11 If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.
Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.
12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?
Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, 'What dost Thou?'
13 God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.
God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.
14 What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?
How much less do I — I answer Him? Choose out 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, I answer not, For my judgment I 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 answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear [to] my voice.
17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.
18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth 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 of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment — who doth convene me?
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 be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! — it declareth me perverse.
21 Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.
Perfect I am! — I know not my soul, I despise my life.
22 One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.
It is the same thing, therefore I said, 'The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'
23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.
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?
Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not — where, who [is] he?
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 runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.
They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.
27 If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.
Though I say, 'I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!'
28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.
29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
I — I am become wicked; why [is] this? [In] vain I labour.
30 If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:
If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,
31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,
Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.
32 For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally in judgment.
But if a man like myself — I answer him, We come together into judgment.
33 There is none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.
If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me.
He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,
35 I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.
