Job 9
1 And Job answers and says:
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Truly I have known that [it is] so, But how is man righteous with God?
Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just before God?
3 If he delights to strive with Him—He does not answer him one of a thousand.
If he choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.
4 Wise in heart and strong in power—Who has hardened toward Him and is at peace?
He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5 Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who has overturned them in His anger.
He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
6 Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
He shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble.
7 Who is commanding to the sun, and it does not rise, And the stars He seals up.
He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.
8 Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
9 Making the Great Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the inner chambers of the south.
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
10 Doing great things until there is no searching, And wonderful, until there is no numbering.
He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful things without number.
11 Behold, He goes over by me, and I do not see, And He passes on, and I do not attend to it.
Lo! he goeth by me, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, He snatches away, who brings it back? Who says to Him, What [are] You doing?
Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou?
13 God does not turn back His anger, Proud helpers have bowed under Him.
God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before him.
14 How much less do I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
How much less shall I answer him, And choose out words to contend with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, For my judgment I make supplication.
Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of my judge.
16 Though I had called and He answers me, I do not believe that He gives ear [to] my voice.
Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
17 Because He bruises me with a storm, And has multiplied my wounds for nothing.
He who falleth upon me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause!
18 He does not permit me to refresh my spirit, But fills me with bitter things.
Who will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness!
19 If of power, behold, the Strong One; And if of judgment—who convenes me?
If I look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
20 If I am righteous, my mouth declares me wicked; [If] I am perfect, it declares 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 perfect; I do not know my soul, I despise my life.
Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; I would despise my life.
22 It is the same thing, therefore I said, He is consuming the perfect and the wicked.
It is all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
23 If a scourge puts to death suddenly, He laughs at the trial of the innocent.
When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings of the innocent.
24 Earth has been given Into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of her judges, If not—where, who [is] he?
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 My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
26 They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darts on food.
They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his prey.
27 Though I say, I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!
If I say, I will forget my lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
28 I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that You do not acquit me.
Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I become wicked; why [is] this? I labor [in] vain.
I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?
30 If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified my hands with soap,
If I wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Then You dip me in corruption, And my garments have detested me.
Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will abhor me.
32 But if a man like myself—I answer Him, We come together into judgment.
For He is not a man, as I am, that I may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;
33 If there were a mediator between us, He places his hand on us both.
There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
34 He turns aside His rod from off me, And His terror does not make me afraid,
Let him take from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
35 I speak, and do not fear Him, but I am not right with myself.”
Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
