Job 9
1 And Job answers and says:
Then Job answered,
2 “Truly I have known that [it is] so, But how is man righteous with God?
“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3 If he delights to strive with Him—He does not answer him one of a thousand.
If he is pleased to contend with him, he can’t answer him one time in a thousand.
4 Wise in heart and strong in power—Who has hardened toward Him and is at peace?
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5 Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who has overturned them in His anger.
He removes the mountains, and they don’t know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 Who is commanding to the sun, and it does not rise, And the stars He seals up.
He commands the sun and it doesn’t rise, and seals up the stars.
8 Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 Making the Great Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the inner chambers of the south.
He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10 Doing great things until there is no searching, And wonderful, until there is no numbering.
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous 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.
Behold, he goes by me, and I don’t see him. He passes on also, but I don’t perceive him.
12 Behold, He snatches away, who brings it back? Who says to Him, What [are] You doing?
Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God does not turn back His anger, Proud helpers have bowed under Him.
“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14 How much less do I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, For my judgment I make supplication.
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn’t answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16 Though I had called and He answers me, I do not believe that He gives ear [to] my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn’t believe that he listened to my voice.
17 Because He bruises me with a storm, And has multiplied my wounds for nothing.
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He does not permit me to refresh my spirit, But fills me with bitter things.
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If of power, behold, the Strong One; And if of judgment—who convenes me?
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20 If I am righteous, my mouth declares me wicked; [If] I am perfect, it declares me perverse.
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21 I am perfect; I do not know my soul, I despise my life.
I am blameless. I don’t respect myself. I despise my life.
22 It is the same thing, therefore I said, He is consuming the perfect and the wicked.
“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 If a scourge puts to death suddenly, He laughs at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial 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 hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
25 My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26 They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darts on food.
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27 Though I say, I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
28 I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that You do not acquit me.
I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 I become wicked; why [is] this? I labor [in] vain.
I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified my hands with soap,
If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Then You dip me in corruption, And my garments have detested me.
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. 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 should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 If there were a mediator between us, He places his hand on us both.
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34 He turns aside His rod from off me, And His terror does not make me afraid,
Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35 I speak, and do not fear Him, but I am not right with myself.”
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
