Job 9
1 Then Job answered and said,
Then Job answered,
2 I know of a truth that it is so: for how shall a mortal man be just before the Lord?
“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3 For if he would enter into judgement with him, [God] would not listen to him, so that he should answer to one of his charges of a thousand.
If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
4 For he is wise in mind, and mighty, and great: who has hardened himself against him and endured?
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5 Who wears out the mountains, and [men] know it not: who overturns them in anger.
He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who shakes the [earth] under heaven from its foundations, and its pillars totter.
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 Who commands the sun, and it rises not; and he seals up the stars.
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and seals up the stars.
8 Who alone has stretched out the heavens, and walks on the sea as on firm ground.
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 Who makes Pleias, and Hesperus, and Arcturus, and the chambers of the south.
He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10 Who does great and unsearchable things; glorious also and excellent things, innumerable.
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11 If ever he should go beyond me, I shall not see him: if he should pass by me, neither thus have I known [it].
Behold, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
12 If he would take away, who shall turn him back? or who shall say to him, What have you done?
Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 For [if] he has turned away [his] anger, the whales under heaven have stooped under him.
“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14 Oh then that he would listen to me, or judge my cause.
How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
15 For though I be righteous, he will not listen to me: I will entreat his judgement.
Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16 And if I should call and he should not listen, I can’t believe that he has listened to my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he listened to my voice.
17 Let him not crush me with a dark storm: but he has made by bruises many without cause.
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 For he suffers me not to take breath, but he has filled me with bitterness.
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 For indeed he is strong in power: who then shall resist his judgement?
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20 For though I should seem righteous, my mouth will be profane: and though I should seem blameless, I shall be proved perverse.
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21 For even if I have sinned, I know it not [in] my soul: but my life is taken away.
I am blameless. I do not respect myself. I despise my life.
22 Therefore I said, Wrath slays the great and mighty man.
“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 For the worthless die, but the righteous are laughed to scorn.
If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24 For they are delivered into the hands of the unrighteous [man]: he covers the faces of the judges [of the earth]: but if it be not he, who is it?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If not he, then who is it?
25 But my life is swifter than a post: [my days] have fled away, and they knew it not.
“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26 Or again, is there a trace of [their] path [left] by ships? or is there one of the flying eagle as it seeks [its] prey?
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27 And if I should say, I will forget to speak, I will bow down my face and groan;
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
28 I quake in all my limbs, for I know that you will not leave me alone [as] innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 But since I am ungodly, why have I not died?
I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30 For if I should wash myself with snow, and purge myself with pure hands,
If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 you had thoroughly plunged me in filth, and my garment had abhorred me.
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
32 For you are not man like me, with whom I could contend, that we might come together to judgement.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, that we should come together in judgment.
33 Would that [he] our mediator were [present], and a reprover, and one who should hear [the cause] between both.
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him remove [his] rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
Let him take his rod away from me. Let his terror not make me afraid;
35 so shall I not be afraid, but I will speak: for I am not thus conscious [of guilt].
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
