Job 9
1 Then responded Job, and said—
And Job answered and said,
2 Of a truth, I know that so it is, But how can a mortal be just with GOD?
Of a truth I know 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 shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing of a thousand.
4 Wise in heart, and alert in vigour, What man hath hardened himself against him, and prospered!
He is wise in heart and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and had peace?
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
Who removeth mountains, and they know it not, when he overturneth them in his anger;
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble;
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it breaketh not forth, and, about the stars, he putteth a seal;
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
8 Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders without number.
11 Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see [him] not; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
12 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
Behold, he taketh away: who will hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
13 As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
God withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers stoop under him:
14 How much less that, I, should answer him, should choose my words with him?
How much less shall I answer him, choose out my words [to strive] with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
Whom, though I were righteous, [yet] would I not answer; 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, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
17 For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
He, who crusheth me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He would not suffer me to recover my breath, for he would surfeit me with bitter things.
He suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
19 If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would prove me perverse.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would 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 one; therefore I said, he destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
If the scourge kill suddenly, he mocketh 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 over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, who then is it?
25 My days, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
And 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 pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon 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 leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten 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 thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should abhor me:
Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would 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 not an umpire between us, who should lay his hand upon 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, and let not his terror make me afraid,
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
[Then] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
