Job 9
1 Then Iob answered, and sayd,
Then responded Job, 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 so it is, But how can a mortal be just with GOD?
3 If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.
If he choose to contend with him, he cannot 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?
Wise in heart, and alert in vigour, What man 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 mountains, unawares, Who 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, shudder;
7 He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.
Who commandeth the sun, and it breaketh not forth, and, about the stars, he putteth a seal;
8 Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
9 He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, 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 marvels, beyond number.
11 Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.
Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
12 Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?
Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
13 God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.
As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
14 Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?
How much less that, I, should answer him, should choose my words 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, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
16 If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.
Though I had called, and he had answered me, I could not believe, that he would lend an ear to my voice.
17 For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
18 He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
He would not suffer me to recover my breath, for he would surfeit me with bitter things.
19 If we speake of strength, behold, he is strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?
If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could 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.
If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
21 Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
22 This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
One thing, there is, for which cause, I have said it, The blameless and the lawless, he bringeth to an end.
23 If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
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, hath been given into the hand of a lawless one, The faces of her judges, he covereth, If not, 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, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
26 They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.
They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
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 lay aside 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 pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
30 If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,
Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should 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 like myself, whom I might answer, nor could we come together into judgment:
33 Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.
There is not, between us, a mediator, who 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 from off me his rod, and, his terror, let it not startle me:
35 Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
