Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
And Job made answer and said,
2 I know it is so truthfully: but how should 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 he will contend with him, he cannot 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 has hardened himself against him, and has 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 Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
6 Which shakes 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 Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.
Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.
8 Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads 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 Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
10 Which does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes 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 takes away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What do you?
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 If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do 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 words to reason 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, but I would make supplication to my judge.
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 had hearkened 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 For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.
19 If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
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 If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also 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 Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
I have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for life.
22 This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys the perfect 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 laugh at the trial of the innocent.
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 covers the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
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 post: 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 eagle that hastes to 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 leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
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 sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes.
29 If I be wicked, why then labour I 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 shall you plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall detest 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, and 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 Neither is there any arbitrator between 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 fear terrify me:
Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.
