Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said:
And Job answered and said,
2 Of a truth I know that it is so; and how can man be just with God?
Of a truth I know it is so; but how can man be just with God?
3 If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one 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 hardened himself against Him, and prospered?
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
5 Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.
Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
8 Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
9 Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things without number.
Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not. He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
12 Behold, He snatcheth away, who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him: 'What doest Thou?'
Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.
God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
14 How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?
How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
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 called, and he had answered me, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
17 He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;
He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.
He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?
Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
21 I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life.
Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is all one — therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
It is all one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh at the trial of the innocent.
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 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 Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
And my days are swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.
They pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon the prey.
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 forget my complaint, I will leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
I am afraid of all my sorrows; I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
31 Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
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 should answer Him, that we should come together in judgment.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him; that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us 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 terror make me afraid;
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid,
35 Then would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
[Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
