Job 9
1 And Job made answer and said,
And Job, responding, said:
2 Truly, I see that it is so: and how is it possible for a man to get his right before God?
Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
3 If a man was desiring to go to law with him, he would not be able to give him an answer to one out of a thousand questions.
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 great in strength: who ever made his face hard against him, and any good came of it?
He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5 It is he who takes away the mountains without their knowledge, overturning them in his wrath:
He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
6 Who is moving the earth out of its place, so that its pillars are shaking:
He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
7 Who gives orders to the sun, and it does not give its light; and who keeps the stars from shining.
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8 By whose hand the heavens were stretched out, and who is walking on the waves of the sea:
He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear and Orion, and the Pleiades, and the store-houses of the south:
He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
10 Who does great things not to be searched out; yes, wonders without number.
He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
11 See, he goes past me and I see him not: he goes on before, but I have no knowledge of him.
If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12 If he puts out his hand to take, by whom may it be turned back? who may say to him, What are you doing?
If he suddenly should question, who will answer him? Or who can say, “Why did you do so?”
13 God's wrath may not be turned back; the helpers of Rahab were bent down under him.
God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
14 How much less may I give an answer to him, using the right words in argument with him?
what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
15 Even if my cause was good, I would not be able to give an answer; I would make request for grace from him who was against me.
And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
16 If I had sent for him to be present, and he had come, I would have no faith that he would give ear to my voice.
And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17 For I would be crushed by his storm, my wounds would be increased without cause.
For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
18 He would not let me take my breath, but I would be full of bitter grief.
He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a question of strength, he says, Here I am! and if it is a question of a cause at law, he says, Who will give me a fixed day?
If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20 Though I was in the right, he would say that I was in the wrong; I have done no evil; but he says that I am a sinner.
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 have done no wrong; I give no thought to what becomes of me; I have no desire for 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 the same to me; so I say, He puts an end to the sinner and to him who has done no wrong together.
There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23 If death comes suddenly through disease, he makes sport of the fate of those who have done no wrong.
If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
24 The land is given into the power of the evil-doer; the faces of its judges are covered; if not by him, then who has done 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 My days go quicker than a post-runner: they go in flight, they see no good.
My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
26 They go rushing on like reed-boats, like an eagle dropping suddenly on its food.
They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
27 If I say, I will put my grief out of mind, I will let my face be sad no longer and I will be bright;
If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
28 I go in fear of all my pains; I am certain that I will not be free from sin in your eyes.
I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
29 You will not let me be clear of sin! why then do I take trouble for nothing?
Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30 If I am washed with snow water, and make my hands clean with soap;
If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
31 Then you will have me pushed into the dust, so that I will seem disgusting to my very clothing.
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 might give him an answer, that we might come together before a judge.
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 one to give a decision between us, who might have control over us.
There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
34 Let him take away his rod from me and not send his fear on me:
Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
35 Then I would say what is in my mind without fear of him; for there is no cause of fear in myself.
I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
