Job 9
1 Then responded Job, and said—
THEN Job answered and said,
2 Of a truth, I know that so it is, But how can a mortal be just with GOD?
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just 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 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 hath prospered?
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
Which 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;
Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, 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: he passeth on also, but 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 can 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.
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do 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, and choose out my words to reason 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, but 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 would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
17 For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
For he breaketh 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 will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
Though I were 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.
This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh 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 covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25 My days, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
Now my days are swifter than a post: 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 are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth 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 forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
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?
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should abhor me:
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall 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, and we should come together in judgment.
33 There is not, between us, a mediator, who might lay his hand upon us both.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might 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 fear terrify me:
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
