Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then Job answered and said,
2 Of a truth I know that it is so. But how can man be just with God?
I know it is so truthfully: but how should man be just with God?
3 If he is pleased 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 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him, and prospered?
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who has hardened himself against him, and has prospered?
5 He who removes the mountains, and they do not know it when he overturns them in his anger,
Which removes the mountains, and they know not: which overturns them in his anger.
6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars of it tremble,
Which shakes the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise, and seals up the stars,
Which commands the sun, and it rises not; and seals up the stars.
8 who alone stretches out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea,
Which alone spreads out the heavens, and treads upon the waves of the sea.
9 who makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south,
Which makes Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 who does great things past finding out, yea, marvelous things without number.
Which does great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He also passes on, but I do not perceive him.
Lo, he goes by me, and I see him not: he passes on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, he seizes; who can hinder him? Who will say to him, What are thou doing?
Behold, he takes away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What do you?
13 God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14 How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason 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 I would not answer. I would make supplication to my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he hearkened 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 he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
For he breaks me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He will not allow me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
He will not suffer me to take my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If of strength, lo, he is mighty! And if of justice, who will summon me?
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 Though I be righteous, my own mouth shall condemn me. Though I be perfect, it shall prove 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 Though I were perfect, I do not regard myself. I despise my life.
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 It is all one thing. Therefore I say, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroys the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of the judges of it. If not he, who then is it?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covers the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?
25 Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good,
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hastes to the prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint. I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer,
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that thou will not hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 I shall be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands ever so clean,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 yet thou will plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
Yet shall you plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall detest me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in 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 no umpire between us who might lay his hand upon us both.
Neither is there any arbitrator between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his terror make me afraid.
Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 Then I would speak, and not be afraid of him, for I am not so in myself.
Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
