< Job 9 >

1 And Job answers and says:
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 “Truly I have known that [it is] so, But how is man righteous with God?
Truly I have known that [it is] so, And what — is man righteous with God?
3 If he delights to strive with Him—He does not answer him one of a thousand.
If he delight to strive with Him — He doth not answer him one of a thousand.
4 Wise in heart and strong in power—Who has hardened toward Him and is at peace?
Wise in heart and strong in power — Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who has overturned them in His anger.
Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.
6 Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
Who is shaking earth from its place, And its pillars move themselves.
7 Who is commanding to the sun, and it does not rise, And the stars He seals up.
Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.
8 Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 Making the Great Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the inner chambers of the south.
Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 Doing great things until there is no searching, And wonderful, until there is no numbering.
Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.
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 over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.
12 Behold, He snatches away, who brings it back? Who says to Him, What [are] You doing?
Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, 'What dost Thou?'
13 God does not turn back His anger, Proud helpers have bowed under Him.
God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.
14 How much less do I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
How much less do I — I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, I do not answer, For my judgment I make supplication.
Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.
16 Though I had called and He answers me, I do not believe that He gives ear [to] my voice.
Though I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear [to] my voice.
17 Because He bruises me with a storm, And has multiplied my wounds for nothing.
Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.
18 He does not permit me to refresh my spirit, But fills me with bitter things.
He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth me with bitter things.
19 If of power, behold, the Strong One; And if of judgment—who convenes me?
If of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment — who doth convene me?
20 If I am righteous, my mouth declares me wicked; [If] I am perfect, it declares me perverse.
If I be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! — it declareth me perverse.
21 I am perfect; I do not know my soul, I despise my life.
Perfect I am! — I know not my soul, I despise my life.
22 It is the same thing, therefore I said, He is consuming the perfect and the wicked.
It is the same thing, therefore I said, 'The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'
23 If a scourge puts to death suddenly, He laughs at the trial of the innocent.
If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.
24 Earth has been given Into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of her judges, If not—where, who [is] he?
Earth hath been given Into the hand of the wicked one. The face of its judges he covereth, If not — where, who [is] he?
25 My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darts on food.
They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.
27 Though I say, I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!
Though I say, 'I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!'
28 I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that You do not acquit me.
I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.
29 I become wicked; why [is] this? I labor [in] vain.
I — I am become wicked; why [is] this? [In] vain I labour.
30 If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified my hands with soap,
If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,
31 Then You dip me in corruption, And my garments have detested me.
Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.
32 But if a man like myself—I answer Him, We come together into judgment.
But if a man like myself — I answer him, We come together into judgment.
33 If there were a mediator between us, He places his hand on us both.
If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.
34 He turns aside His rod from off me, And His terror does not make me afraid,
He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,
35 I speak, and do not fear Him, but I am not right with myself.”
I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.

< Job 9 >