Job 9
1 And Job answered and said,
And Job, responding, said:
2 Of a truth I know 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 shall choose to strive with him, he cannot answer him one thing 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 had peace?
He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5 Who removeth 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 Who 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 Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, and he sealeth up the stars;
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the high waves of the sea;
He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9 Who 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 Who doeth great things past finding out, and wonders 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; and he passeth along, and I perceive him not.
If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12 Behold, he taketh away: who will 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 withdraweth not his anger; the proud helpers 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, choose out my words [to strive] 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, I would not believe that he hearkened to my voice, —
And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17 He, who crusheth 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 suffereth me not to take my breath, for he filleth me with bitternesses.
He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
19 Be it a question of strength, lo, [he is] strong; and be it of judgment, who will set me a time?
If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20 If I justified myself, mine own mouth would condemn me; were I perfect, he would 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 Were I perfect, [yet] would I not know my soul: I would 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 said, 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 kill suddenly, he mocketh 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 over into the hand of the wicked [man]; he covereth the faces of its judges. If not, 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 And my days are swifter than a runner: 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 pass by like skiffs of reed; as an eagle that swoops upon 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 leave off my [sad] countenance, and brighten up,
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 Be it that I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30 If I washed myself with snow-water, and cleansed my hands in purity,
If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
31 Then wouldest thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes would 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 not an umpire between us, who should 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] I will speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
