Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
And Job answers and says:
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, But how is man righteous with God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
If he delights to strive with Him—He does 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 has 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 has 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 commanding to the sun, and it does not rise, And the stars He seals 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 the Great Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
Doing great things until there is no searching, And wonderful, until there is no numbering.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
Behold, He goes over by me, and I do not see, And He passes on, and I do not attend to it.
12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Behold, He snatches away, who brings it back? Who says to Him, What [are] You doing?
13 [If] God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
God does not turn back His anger, Proud helpers have bowed under Him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, [and] choose out my words [to reason] with him?
How much less do 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 do not answer, 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 answers me, I do not believe that He gives ear [to] my voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
Because He bruises me with a storm, And has multiplied my wounds for nothing.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
He does not permit me to refresh my spirit, But fills 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, behold, the Strong One; And if of judgment—who convenes 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 am righteous, my mouth declares me wicked; [If] I am perfect, it declares me perverse.
21 [Though] I [were] perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
I am perfect; I do not know 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, He is consuming the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
If a scourge puts to death suddenly, He laughs 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 not, where, [and] who [is] he?
Earth has been given Into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of her judges, 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 darts 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 You do not acquit me.
29 [If] I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
I become wicked; why [is] this? I labor [in] vain.
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 my hands with soap,
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
Then You dip me in corruption, And my garments have detested 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 a mediator between us, He places his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
He turns aside His rod from off me, And His terror does 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.”
