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