Job 9
1 Then answered Job, and said,
And Job answers and says:
2 Truly I know that it is so: and how could a mortal be righteous before God?
“Truly I have known that [it is] so, But how is man righteous with God?
3 If he were desirous to enter into a contest with him, he could not give him one answer out of a thousand.
If he delights to strive with Him—He does not answer him one of a thousand.
4 He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and escaped unscathed?
Wise in heart and strong in power—Who has hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 [He it is] who removeth mountains, and they know it not, yea, when he overturneth them in his anger;
Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who has overturned them in His anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth loose out of her place, that her pillars tremble;
Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
7 Who speaketh to the sun, and he shineth not, and around the stars he placeth a seal;
Who is commanding to the sun, and it does not rise, And the stars He seals up.
8 Who spread out the heavens by himself alone, and treadeth upon the hillocks of the sea;
Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers the south;
Making the Great Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 Who doth great things which are quite unsearchable, and wonders which are quite without number.
Doing great things until there is no searching, And wonderful, until there is no numbering.
11 Lo, were he to go past by me, I should not see him; and were he to pass along, I should not perceive him.
Behold, He goes over by me, and I do not see, And He passes on, and I do not attend to it.
12 Behold, were he to snatch aught away, who could hold him back? who would say unto him, What dost thou?
Behold, He snatches away, who brings it back? Who says to Him, What [are] You doing?
13 God will not withdraw his anger: beneath him sink down the helpers of the proud.
God does not turn back His anger, Proud helpers have bowed under Him.
14 How much less then could I answer him, and select my words [to contend] with him?
How much less do I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
15 Whom, were I even righteous, I could not answer? to him that condemneth me I could [only] make supplication.
Whom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, For my judgment I make supplication.
16 Or were I to call, and he would answer me, I could yet not believe that he would give ear unto my voice—
Though I had called and He answers me, I do not believe that He gives ear [to] my voice.
17 He that bruiseth me with [his] tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without a cause.
Because He bruises me with a storm, And has multiplied my wounds for nothing.
18 He suffereth me not to recover my breath; but feedeth me overmuch with bitter things.
He does not permit me to refresh my spirit, But fills me with bitter things.
19 If it regard strength, lo, he is the powerful; and if justice, who will cite him for me to appear?
If of power, behold, the Strong One; And if of judgment—who convenes me?
20 If I were righteous even, my own mouth would condemn me: were I innocent, it would still prove me perverse.
If I am righteous, my mouth declares me wicked; [If] I am perfect, it declares me perverse.
21 I am innocent; I will not have regard for myself: I will despise my life.
I am perfect; I do not know my soul, I despise my life.
22 One thing is [certain], therefore have I said it, The innocent and the wicked he bringeth to their end.
It is the same thing, therefore I said, He is consuming the perfect and the wicked.
23 If a scourge should slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the guiltless.
If a scourge puts to death suddenly, He laughs at the trial of the innocent.
24 Is a land given up into the hand of the wicked? he covereth the faces of its judges: if this be not the truth, who is it then?
Earth has been given Into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of her judges, If not—where, who [is] he?
25 And my days pass swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no happiness,
My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 They hasten along like pirate ships: like the eagle that stoopeth down upon his food.
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 sorrowful countenance, and recover my cheerfulness:
Though I say, I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!
28 O then would I be in dread of all my pains; I know that thou wilt not declare me innocent.
I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that You do not acquit me.
29 I must ever be guilty: why then should I fatigue myself for nought?
I become wicked; why [is] this? I labor [in] vain.
30 If I were to wash myself in snow-water, to cleanse myself in the purity of my hands:
If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified my hands with soap,
31 Even then wouldst thou plunge me in the ditch, that my own clothes would render me abhorred.
Then You dip me in corruption, And my garments have detested me.
32 For he is not a man, like me, that I could answer him, that we should enter together into a contest.
But if a man like myself—I answer Him, We come together into judgment.
33 There is no one who can decide between us, who could lay his hand upon us both.
If there were a mediator between us, He places his hand on us both.
34 Let him but remove from me his rod, and let not his dread 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; for the like I feel not within me.
I speak, and do not fear Him, but I am not right with myself.”
