Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then Iob answered, and sayd,
2 Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just before God?
I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be iustified?
3 If he choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.
If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.
4 He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath bene fierce against him and hath prospered?
5 He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
6 He shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble.
Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.
7 He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.
He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.
8 He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
10 He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful things without number.
He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.
11 Lo! he goeth by me, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.
12 Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou?
Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?
13 God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before him.
God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, And choose out words to contend with him?
Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?
15 Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of my judge.
For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.
16 Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.
17 He who falleth upon me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause!
For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
18 Who will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness!
He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
19 If I look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
If we speake of strength, behold, he is strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?
20 Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.
If I woulde iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shall condemne mee: if I would be perfite, he shall iudge me wicked.
21 Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; I would despise my life.
Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
23 When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings of the innocent.
If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
24 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?
The earth is giuen into the hand of ye wicked: he couereth the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he? or who is he?
25 My days have been swifter than a courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.
26 They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his prey.
They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.
27 If I say, I will forget my lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,
28 Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
29 I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?
If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
30 If I wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,
31 Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will abhor me.
Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
32 For He is not a man, as I am, that I may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;
For he is not a man as I am, that I shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.
33 There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.
34 Let him take from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:
35 Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
