Job 9
1 Then responded Job, and said—
And Job, responding, said:
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, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
3 If he choose to contend with him, he cannot answer him, one of a thousand:
If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.
4 Wise in heart, and alert in vigour, What man hath hardened himself against him, and prospered!
He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
He shakes the earth out of its place and 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 he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8 Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
11 Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
13 As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
14 How much less that, I, should answer him, should choose my words with him?
what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech 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.
And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17 For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
18 He would not suffer me to recover my breath, for he would surfeit me with bitter things.
He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
19 If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
22 One thing, there is, for which cause, I have said it, The blameless and the lawless, he bringeth to an end.
There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment 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?
Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it?
25 My days, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
26 They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will lay aside my sad countenance, and brighten up,
If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
29 I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should abhor me:
yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.
32 For he is not a man like myself, whom I might answer, nor could we come together into judgment:
For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.
33 There is not, between us, a mediator, who might lay his hand upon us both.
There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
34 Let him take from off me his rod, and, his terror, let it not startle me:
Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
