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?
Indeed I know 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 will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for 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 resisted him, and hath had peace?
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
Who shaketh the earth out of her 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 tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal:
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 walketh upon the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
11 Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.
12 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?
13 As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up 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 have words with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but 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.
And if he should hear me when I call, I should 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 shall 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 alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
19 If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.
22 One thing, there is, for which cause, I have said it, The blameless and the lawless, he bringeth to an end.
One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains 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 covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then?
25 My days, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.
26 They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to 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 not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
29 I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should abhor me:
Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,
32 For he is not a man like myself, whom I might answer, nor could we come together into judgment:
For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may 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 none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between 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 fear terrify me.
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
