Job 9
1 Then Iob answered, and sayd,
And Job answered and said,
2 I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be iustified?
Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
3 If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.
If he shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath bene fierce against him and hath prospered?
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
5 He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6 Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.
Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7 He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
8 Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
9 He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.
Who doeth great things past finding 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.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
12 Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?
Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.
God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
14 Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?
How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
15 For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.
If I had called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
17 For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 If we speake of strength, behold, he is strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?
Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
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 justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial 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 over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?
25 My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.
And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.
They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
27 If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
28 Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,
If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes 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 he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.
33 Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.
There is not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
35 Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
[Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
