Job 9
1 Then answered Job, and said,
Then Job answered,
2 Truly I know that it is so: and how could a mortal be righteous before God?
“Truly 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 is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
4 He is wise of heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and escaped unscathed?
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has 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 removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth loose out of her place, that her pillars tremble;
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 Who speaketh to the sun, and he shineth not, and around the stars he placeth a seal;
He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.
8 Who spread out the heavens by himself alone, and treadeth upon the hillocks of the sea;
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers the south;
He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10 Who doth great things which are quite unsearchable, and wonders which are quite without number.
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvellous 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.
Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
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 can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
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 stoop under him.
14 How much less then could I answer him, and select my words [to contend] with him?
How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue 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 righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to 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—
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17 He that bruiseth me with [his] tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without a cause.
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He suffereth me not to recover my breath; but feedeth me overmuch with bitter things.
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills 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 it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20 If I were righteous even, my own mouth would condemn me: were I innocent, it would still prove me perverse.
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21 I am innocent; I will not have regard for myself: I will despise my life.
I am blameless. I don’t respect 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 the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 If a scourge should slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the guiltless.
If the scourge kills 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 covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who 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 runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26 They hasten along like pirate ships: like the eagle that stoopeth down upon his food.
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops 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 face, and cheer up,’
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 you will not hold me innocent.
29 I must ever be guilty: why then should I fatigue myself for nought?
I will 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, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Even then wouldst thou plunge me in the ditch, that my own clothes would render me abhorred.
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. 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 should answer him, that we should come together in judgement.
33 There is no one who can decide between us, who could lay his hand upon us both.
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on 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. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; for the like I feel not within me.
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
