Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said:
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just before God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
If he choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?
He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5 Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
6 Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
He shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble.
7 Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.
He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.
8 Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
9 Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
10 Which does great things past finding out; yes, and wonders without number.
He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful things without number.
11 See, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him not.
Lo! he goeth by me, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What do you?
Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou?
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
How much less shall I answer him, And choose out words to contend with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had listened to my voice.
Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
17 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
He who falleth upon me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause!
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
Who will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness!
19 If I speak of strength, see, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
If I look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
20 If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; I would despise my life.
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
It is all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
23 If the whip slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
The earth is given into the hands of the wicked; He covereth the face of the judges thereof; If it be not He, who is it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hastens to the prey.
They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
If I say, I will forget my lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why then labor I in vain?
I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
If I wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Yet shall you plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
For He is not a man, as I am, that I may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;
33 Neither is there any judge between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
Let him take from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
