Job 9
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Then Job answered and said:
2 Truly I know that it is so: and how could a mortal be righteous before God?
Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just before 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 choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.
4 He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and escaped unscathed?
He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5 [He it is] who removeth mountains, and they know it not, yea, when he overturneth them in his anger;
He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth loose out of her place, that her pillars tremble;
He shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble.
7 Who speaketh to the sun, and he shineth not, and around the stars he placeth a seal;
He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.
8 Who spread out the heavens by himself alone, and treadeth upon the hillocks of the sea;
He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers the south;
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
10 Who doth great things which are quite unsearchable, and wonders which are quite without number.
He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful things without number.
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.
Lo! he goeth by me, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, were he to snatch aught away, who could hold him back? who would say unto him, What dost thou?
Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou?
13 God will not withdraw his anger: beneath him sink down the helpers of the proud.
God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before him.
14 How much less then could I answer him, and select my words [to contend] with him?
How much less shall I answer him, And choose out words to contend with him?
15 Whom, were I even righteous, I could not answer? to him that condemneth me I could [only] make supplication.
Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of my judge.
16 Or were I to call, and he would answer me, I could yet not believe that he would give ear unto my voice—
Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
17 He that bruiseth me with [his] tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without a cause.
He who falleth upon me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause!
18 He suffereth me not to recover my breath; but feedeth me overmuch with bitter things.
Who will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness!
19 If it regard strength, lo, he is the powerful; and if justice, who will cite him for me to appear?
If I look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
20 If I were righteous even, my own mouth would condemn me: were I innocent, it would still prove me perverse.
Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.
21 I am innocent; I will not have regard for myself: I will despise my life.
Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; I would 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 all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
23 If a scourge should slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the guiltless.
When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings 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?
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 And my days pass swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no happiness,
My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
26 They hasten along like pirate ships: like the eagle that stoopeth down upon his food.
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 sorrowful countenance, and recover my cheerfulness:
If I say, I will forget my lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
28 O then would I be in dread of all my pains; I know that thou wilt not declare me innocent.
Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I must ever be guilty: why then should I fatigue myself for nought?
I shall be found guilty; Why then should 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 wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Even then wouldst thou plunge me in the ditch, that my own clothes would render me abhorred.
Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, like me, that I could answer him, that we should enter together into a contest.
For He is not a man, as I am, that I may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;
33 There is no one who can decide between us, who could lay his hand upon us both.
There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him but remove from me his rod, and let not his dread 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; for the like I feel not within me.
Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
