Job 9
1 Then Iob answered, and sayd,
And Job, responding, said:
2 I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be iustified?
Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
3 If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.
If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath bene fierce against him and hath prospered?
He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5 He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
6 Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.
He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
7 He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8 Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9 He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
10 He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.
He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
11 Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.
If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12 Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?
If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
13 God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.
God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
14 Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?
what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
15 For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.
And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
16 If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.
And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17 For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
18 He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills 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 strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20 If I woulde iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shall condemne mee: if I would be perfite, he shall iudge me wicked.
If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
21 Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
22 This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23 If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment 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?
Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, 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 have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
26 They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.
They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
27 If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,
If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
28 Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
29 If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30 If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,
If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.
32 For he is not a man as I am, that I shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.
For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.
33 Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.
There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:
Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
35 Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
