Job 9
1 Then Iob answered, and sayd,
Then Job answered:
2 I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be iustified?
“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
3 If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.
If one wished to contend with God, he could not answer Him one time out of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath bene fierce against him and hath prospered?
God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
5 He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
He moves mountains without their knowledge and overturns them in His anger.
6 Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.
He shakes the earth from its place, so that its foundations tremble.
7 He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.
He commands the sun not to shine; He seals off the stars.
8 Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, of the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10 He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.
He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.
Were He to pass by me, I would not see Him; were He to move, I would not recognize Him.
12 Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?
If He takes away, who can stop Him? Who dares to ask Him, ‘What are You doing?’
13 God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.
God does not restrain His anger; the helpers of Rahab cower beneath Him.
14 Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?
How then can I answer Him or choose my arguments against Him?
15 For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.
For even if I were right, I could not answer. I could only beg my Judge for mercy.
16 If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.
If I summoned Him and He answered me, I do not believe He would listen to my voice.
17 For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
For He would crush me with a tempest and multiply my wounds without cause.
18 He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
He does not let me catch my breath, but overwhelms me with bitterness.
19 If we speake of strength, behold, he is strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?
If it is a matter of strength, He is indeed mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him?
20 If I woulde iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shall condemne mee: if I would be perfite, he shall iudge me wicked.
Even if I were righteous, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would declare me guilty.
21 Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
Though I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22 This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
It is all the same, and so I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23 If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
When the scourge brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth is giuen into the hand of ye wicked: he couereth the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he? or who is he?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?
25 My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.
My days are swifter than a runner; they flee without seeing good.
26 They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.
They sweep by like boats of papyrus, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,
If I were to say, ‘I will forget my complaint and change my expression and smile,’
28 Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
I would still dread all my sufferings; I know that You will not acquit me.
29 If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
Since I am already found guilty, why should I labor in vain?
30 If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,
If I should wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
then You would plunge me into the pit, and even my own clothes would despise me.
32 For he is not a man as I am, that I shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.
For He is not a man like me, that I can answer Him, that we can take each other to court.
33 Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.
Nor is there a mediator between us, to lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:
Let Him remove His rod from me, so that His terror will no longer frighten me.
35 Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
Then I would speak without fear of Him. But as it is, I am on my own.
