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?
“I truly know that this is so. But how can a person be in the right with God?
3 If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.
If he wants to argue with God, he cannot answer him once in a thousand times.
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 ever hardened himself against him and succeeded?—
5 He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
he who removes the mountains without warning anyone when he overturns them in his anger—
6 Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.
he who shakes the earth out of its place and sets its supports trembling.
7 He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.
It is the same God who tells the sun not to rise, and it does not, and who covers up the stars,
8 Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
who by himself stretches out the heavens and tramples down the waves of the sea,
9 He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
who makes the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the south.
10 He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.
He does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things that cannot be counted.
11 Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.
See, he goes by me, and I do not see him; he passes on also, but I do not perceive 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 something away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'
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 bow beneath him.
14 Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?
How much less could I answer him, could I choose words to reason with him?
15 For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.
Even if I were righteous, I could not answer him; I could only plead for mercy with my judge.
16 If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.
Even if I called and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
For he breaks me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
He does not allow me to regain my breath; but 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 it is a matter of strength, behold, he is 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.
Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; and though I am blameless, my words would prove me to be guilty.
21 Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
I am blameless, but I do not care any more about myself; I despise my own life.
22 This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
It makes no difference, which is why I say that he destroys blameless people and wicked people together.
23 If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
When a whip suddenly kills, 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 wicked people; God covers the faces of its judges. If it is not he who does it, 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 running messenger; my days flee away; they see no good anywhere.
26 They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.
They are as fast as papyrus reed boats, and as fast as the eagle that swoops down on its victim.
27 If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,
If I said that I would forget about my complaints, that I would take off my sad face and be happy,
28 Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
I would be afraid of all my sorrows because I know that you will not consider me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
I will be condemned; why, then, should I try 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 made my hands ever so clean,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
God would plunge me in a ditch, and my own clothes would be disgusted with me.
32 For he is not a man as I am, that I shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.
For God is not a man, as I am, that I could answer him, that we could come together in court.
33 Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.
There is no judge between us who might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:
There is no other judge who could take God's rod off me, who could keep his terror from frightening me.
35 Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
Then would I speak up and not fear him. But as things are now, I cannot do that.
