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: but how can man be just 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 be pleased to contend with him, he cannot 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?
[He is] wise in heart, and 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;
Which removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth loose out of her place, that her pillars tremble;
Which 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;
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 Who spread out the heavens by himself alone, and treadeth upon the hillocks of the sea;
Which alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers the south;
Which maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 Who doth great things which are quite unsearchable, and wonders which are quite without number.
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvelous 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, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, were he to snatch aught away, who could hold him back? who would say unto him, What dost thou?
Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 God will not withdraw his anger: beneath him sink down the helpers of the proud.
God will not withdraw his anger; the helpers of Rahab do stoop under 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 my words [to reason] 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, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to mine adversary.
16 Or were I to call, and he would answer me, I could yet not believe that he would give ear unto my voice—
If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.
17 He that bruiseth me with [his] tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without a cause.
For he breaketh 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.
He 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 [we speak] of the strength of the mighty, lo, [he is there]! and if of judgment, who will appoint me a time?
20 If I were righteous even, my own mouth would condemn me: were I innocent, it would still prove me perverse.
Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
21 I am innocent; I will not have regard for myself: I will despise my life.
I am perfect; I regard not myself; 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 all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If a scourge should slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the guiltless.
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will mock 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?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if [it be] not [he], who then is it?
25 And my days pass swifter than a runner: they flee away, they see no happiness,
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They hasten along like pirate ships: like the eagle that stoopeth down upon his food.
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that swoopeth on the 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 complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer:
28 O then would I be in dread of all my pains; I know that thou wilt not declare me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, 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 condemned; why then do I labour 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 with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Even then wouldst thou plunge me in the ditch, that my own clothes would render me abhorred.
Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall 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 should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no one who can decide between us, who could lay his hand upon us both.
There is no daysman betwixt us, that might 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 his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid:
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; for the like I feel not within me.
Then would I speak, and not fear him; for I am not so in myself.
