Job 9
1 THEN Job answered and said,
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
Truly I have known that [it is] so, And what — is man righteous with God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
If he delight to strive with Him — He doth not answer him one of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
Wise in heart and strong in power — Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.
6 Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
7 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.
8 Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, 'What dost Thou?'
13 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
How much less do I — I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
Though I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear [to] my voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth me with bitter things.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
If of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment — who doth convene me?
20 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
If I be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! — it declareth me perverse.
21 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
Perfect I am! — I know not my soul, I despise my life.
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
It is the same thing, therefore I said, 'The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not — where, who [is] he?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
Though I say, 'I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!'
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
I — I am become wicked; why [is] this? [In] vain I labour.
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
But if a man like myself — I answer him, We come together into judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.
