Job 9
1 Then Iob answered, and sayd,
Then 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 that it is so; and 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 one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one 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 prospered?
5 He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
Who removeth the 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 her 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 sealeth up the stars.
8 Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the 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; yea, marvellous things 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. He passeth on also, but 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 snatcheth away, who can 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 will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did 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, and choose out my arguments 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 Him that contendeth with me.
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; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice —
17 For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
He that would break 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.
That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill 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 be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint 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.
Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life.
22 This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
It is all one — therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
23 If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
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 covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not He, who then is it?
25 My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.
Now 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 are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on 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 put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',
28 Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
29 If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall 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 no arbiter betwixt us, that might 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 would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
