Job 9
1 Then responded Job, and said—
Then Job answered,
2 Of a truth, I know that so it is, But how can a mortal be just with 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, one of a thousand:
If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
4 Wise in heart, and alert in vigour, What man hath hardened himself against him, and prospered!
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it breaketh not forth, and, about the stars, he putteth a seal;
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and seals up the stars.
8 Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11 Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
Behold, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
12 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14 How much less that, I, should answer him, should choose my words with him?
How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16 Though I had called, and he had answered me, I could not believe, that he would lend an ear to my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he listened to my voice.
17 For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He would not suffer me to recover my breath, for he would surfeit me with bitter things.
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
I am blameless. I do not respect myself. I despise my life.
22 One thing, there is, for which cause, I have said it, The blameless and the lawless, he bringeth to an end.
“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth, hath been given into the hand of a lawless one, The faces of her judges, he covereth, If not, then 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, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26 They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will lay aside my sad countenance, and brighten up,
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should abhor me:
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man like myself, whom I might answer, nor could we come 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 not, between us, a mediator, who might 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 off me his rod, and, his terror, let it not startle me:
Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
