Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said:
And Job made answer and said,
2 Of a truth I know that it is so; and how can man be just with God?
Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?
3 If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one of a thousand.
If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength; who hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?
He is wise in heart and great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?
5 Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.
It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking:
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.
8 Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea:
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
10 Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things without number.
Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.
11 Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not. He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.
See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him.
12 Behold, He snatcheth away, who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him: 'What doest Thou?'
If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?
13 God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.
God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
14 How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?
How much less may I give an answer to him, using the right words in argument with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.
Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.
16 If I had called, and He had answered me; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice —
If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.
17 He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;
For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
18 That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.
He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.
19 If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?
If it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day?
20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner.
21 I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life.
I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
22 It is all one — therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
It is all the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
If death comes suddenly through disease, he makes sport of the fate of those who have done no wrong.
24 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?
The land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.
They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food.
27 If I say: 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',
If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright;
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes.
29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
If I am washed with snow water, and make my hands clean with soap;
31 Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
32 For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, that we should come together in judgment.
For he is not a man as I am, that I might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge.
33 There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
There is no one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.
34 Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His terror make me afraid;
Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.
