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?
Of a truth, I know that it is so: For how can man be just before God?
3 If he choose to contend with him, he cannot answer him, one of a thousand:
If he choose to contend with him, He cannot answer him to one charge of a thousand.
4 Wise in heart, and alert in vigour, What man hath hardened himself against him, and prospered!
He is excellent in wisdom, mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
He removeth the mountains, and they know it not; He overturneth them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
He 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;
He 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;
He alone spreadeth out the heavens, And walketh upon the high waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the secret chambers of the South.
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
He doeth great things past finding out, Yea, wonderful things 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, but I see him not; He passeth along, but I do not perceive him.
12 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
Lo! he seizeth, and who can hinder him? Who will say to 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 turn away his anger; The proud helpers are brought low before 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 words to contend with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
Though I were innocent, I would not answer him; I would cast myself on the mercy of 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.
Should I call, and he make answer to me, I could not believe that he listened to my voice, —
17 For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
He who falleth upon 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.
Who 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 look to strength, “Lo! here am I!” [[saith he, ]] If to justice, “Who shall summon me to trial?”
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
Though I were upright, yet must my own mouth condemn me; Though I were innocent, He would prove me perverse.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
Though I were innocent, I would not care for myself; 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 will affirm, He destroyeth the righteous and the wicked alike.
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
When the scourge bringeth sudden destruction, He laugheth at the sufferings 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 hands of the wicked; He covereth the face of the judges thereof; If it be not He, 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 courier; They have fled away; they have seen no good.
26 They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
They have gone by like the reed-skiffs; Like the eagle, darting upon his 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 lamentation, I will change my countenance, and take courage,
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
Still am I in dread of the multitude of my sorrows; For I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
I shall be found guilty; Why then should I labor in vain?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
If I wash myself in snow, And cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should abhor me:
Still wilt thou plunge me into the pit, So that my own clothes will 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 may contend with him, And that we may go together into judgment;
33 There is not, between us, a mediator, who might lay his hand upon us both.
There is no umpire between us, Who may 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 from me his rod, And not dismay me with his terrors,
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
Then I will speak, and not be afraid of him: For I am not so at heart.
