Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
And Job, responding, said:
2 Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?
Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
3 If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.
If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.
4 [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?—
He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5 [Him] that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;
He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
6 That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;
He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
7 That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8 That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;
He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9 That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;
He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
10 That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.
He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12 Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?
If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
13 God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.
God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
14 How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words [to reason] with him?
what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.
And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
16 If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.
And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17 For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.
For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
18 He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.
He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
19 If [we speak] of strength, lo, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, Who, [saith he], will summon me?
If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20 Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.
If I wanted to justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I would reveal my innocence, he would prove me depraved.
21 I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.
And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
22 It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23 If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.
If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
24 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?
Since the earth has been given into the hand of the impious, he covers the face of its judges; for if it is not him, then who is it?
25 Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good.
My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
26 They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.
They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer;
If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
28 I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
29 I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?
Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;
If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
31 Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.
yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would 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 even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.
33 There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.
There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:
Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
35 Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.
I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
