< Job 9 >
1 Then Job answered and said,
And Job answereth and saith: —
2 Of a truth I know that it is so: but how can man be just with God?
Truly I have known that [it is] so, And what — is man righteous with God?
3 If he be pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
If he delight to strive with Him — He doth not answer him one of a thousand.
4 [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
Wise in heart and strong in power — Who hath hardened toward Him and is at peace?
5 Which removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger.
Who is removing mountains, And they have not known, Who hath overturned them in His anger.
6 Which 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 Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
Who is speaking to the sun, and it riseth not, And the stars He sealeth up.
8 Which alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
Stretching out the heavens by Himself, And treading on the heights of the sea,
9 Which maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
Making Osh, Kesil, and Kimah, And the inner chambers of the south.
10 Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvelous things without number.
Doing great things till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
Lo, He goeth over by me, and I see not, And He passeth on, and I attend not to it.
12 Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Lo, He snatches away, who bringeth it back? Who saith unto Him, 'What dost Thou?'
13 God will not withdraw his anger; the helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.
God doth not turn back His anger, Under Him bowed have proud helpers.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words [to reason] with him?
How much less do I — I answer Him? Choose out my words with Him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to mine adversary.
Whom, though I were righteous, I answer not, For my judgment I make supplication.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.
Though I had called and He answereth me, I do not believe that He giveth ear [to] my voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
Because with a tempest He bruiseth me, And hath multiplied my wounds for nought.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
He permitteth me not to refresh my spirit, But filleth me with bitter things.
19 If [we speak] of the strength of the mighty, lo, [he is there]! and if of judgment, who will appoint me a time?
If of power, lo, the Strong One; And if of judgment — who doth convene me?
20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
If I be righteous, Mine mouth doth declare me wicked, Perfect I am! — it declareth me perverse.
21 I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
Perfect I am! — I know not my soul, I despise my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
It is the same thing, therefore I said, 'The perfect and the wicked He is consuming.'
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
If a scourge doth put to death suddenly, At the trial of the innocent He laugheth.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if [it be] not [he], who then is it?
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 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
My days have been swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have not seen good,
26 They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.
They have passed on with ships of reed, As an eagle darteth on food.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer:
Though I say, 'I forget my talking, I forsake my corner, and I brighten up!'
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I have been afraid of all my griefs, I have known that Thou dost not acquit me.
29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
I — I am become wicked; why [is] this? [In] vain I labour.
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
If I have washed myself with snow-water, And purified with soap my hands,
31 Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
Then in corruption Thou dost dip me, And my garments have abominated me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
But if a man like myself — I answer him, We come together into judgment.
33 There is no daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
If there were between us an umpire, He doth place his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid:
He doth turn aside from off me his rod, And His terror doth not make me afraid,
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; for I am not so in myself.
I speak, and do not fear Him, But I am not right with myself.