Job 9
1 Then Job answered,
Then Job answered and said:
2 “Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
Of a truth I know that it is so; and how can man be just with God?
3 If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
If one should desire to contend with Him, he could not answer Him one of a thousand.
4 God 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 hath hardened himself against Him, and prospered?
5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
Who removeth the mountains, and they know it not, when He overturneth them in His anger.
6 He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
7 He commands the sun and it does not rise, and seals up the stars.
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
Who alone stretcheth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things without number.
11 Behold, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
Lo, He goeth by me, and I see Him not. He passeth on also, but I perceive Him not.
12 Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
Behold, He snatcheth away, who can hinder Him? Who will say unto Him: 'What doest Thou?'
13 “God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
God will not withdraw His anger; the helpers of Rahab did stoop under Him.
14 How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
How much less shall I answer Him, and choose out my arguments with Him?
15 Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to Him that contendeth with me.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he listened to my voice.
If I had called, and He had answered me; yet would I not believe that He would hearken unto my voice —
17 For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
He that would break me with a tempest, and multiply my wounds without cause;
18 He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
That would not suffer me to take my breath, but fill me with bitterness.
19 If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
If it be a matter of strength, lo, He is mighty! and if of justice, who will appoint me a time?
20 Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me; though I be innocent, He shall prove me perverse.
21 I am blameless. I do not respect myself. I despise my life.
I am innocent — I regard not myself, I despise my life.
22 “It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
It is all one — therefore I say: He destroyeth the innocent and the wicked.
23 If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the calamity of the guiltless.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if it be not He, who then is it?
25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.
26 They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
They are passed away as the swift ships; as the vulture that swoopeth on the prey.
27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
If I say: 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad countenance, and be of good cheer',
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
I am afraid of all my pains, I know that Thou wilt not hold me guiltless.
29 I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
Yet wilt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor 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, that we should come together in judgment.
33 There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
There is no arbiter betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His terror make me afraid;
35 then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
Then would I speak, and not fear Him; for I am not so with myself.
