Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said:
Then Job answered,
2 Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just before God?
"Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3 If he choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.
If he is pleased to contend with him, he can't answer him one time in a thousand.
4 He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
For he is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5 He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 He shaketh the earth out of her place, And the pillars thereof tremble.
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And he sealeth up the stars.
He commands the sun, and it doesn't rise, and seals up the stars.
8 He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
He makes Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, and the chambers of the south.
10 He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful things without number.
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11 Lo! he goeth by me, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
Look, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
12 Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What doest thou?
Look, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, 'What are you doing?'
13 God will not turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before him.
"God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, And choose out words to contend with him?
How much less shall I answer him, And choose my words to argue with him?
15 Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of my judge.
Though I were righteous, yet I wouldn't answer him. I would make petition to my judge.
16 Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I wouldn't believe that he listened to my voice.
17 He who falleth upon me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause!
For he bruises me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 Who will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness!
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If I look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
If it is a matter of strength, look, he is mighty. And if of justice, who will summon him?
20 Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.
Though I am righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I am blameless, it shall prove me perverse.
21 Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; I would despise my life.
I am blameless. I do not regard myself. I despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
"It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings of the innocent.
If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock 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?
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 courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
"Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away, they see no good,
26 They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his prey.
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up;'
28 Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?
I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
If I wash myself with snow water, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will abhor me.
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes shall abhor 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;
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him take from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35 Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
