Job 9
1 Then responded Job, and said—
Then Iob answered, and sayd,
2 Of a truth, I know that so it is, But how can a mortal be just with GOD?
I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be iustified?
3 If he choose to contend with him, he cannot answer him, one of a thousand:
If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere 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 bene fierce against him and hath prospered?
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it breaketh not forth, and, about the stars, he putteth a seal;
He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.
8 Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.
11 Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.
12 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?
13 As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.
14 How much less that, I, should answer him, should choose my words with him?
Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.
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 cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.
17 For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
18 He would not suffer me to recover my breath, for he would surfeit me with bitter things.
He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
19 If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
If we speake of strength, behold, he is strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
If I woulde iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shall condemne mee: if I would be perfite, he shall iudge me wicked.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
22 One thing, there is, for which cause, I have said it, The blameless and the lawless, he bringeth to an end.
This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God 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?
The earth is giuen into the hand of ye wicked: he couereth the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he? or who is he?
25 My days, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.
26 They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will lay aside my sad countenance, and brighten up,
If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
29 I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should abhor me:
Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
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 shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.
33 There is not, between us, a mediator, who might lay his hand upon us both.
Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs 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 feare astonish me:
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
