Job 9
1 And Job answered, and said:
Then Job answered,
2 Indeed I know it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
“Truly I know that it is so, but how can man be just with God?
3 If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one for a thousand.
If he is pleased to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath resisted him, and hath had peace?
God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against him and prospered?
5 Who hath removed mountains, and they whom he overthrew in his wrath, knew it not.
He removes the mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.
He shakes the earth out of its place. Its pillars tremble.
7 Who commandeth tile sun and it riseth not: and shutteth up the stars as it were under a seal:
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and seals up the stars.
8 Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and walketh upon the waves of the sea.
He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea.
9 Who maketh Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the inner parts of the south.
He makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the rooms of the south.
10 Who doth things great and incomprehensible, and wonderful, of which there is no number.
He does great things past finding out; yes, marvelous things without number.
11 If he come to me, I shall not see him: if he depart I shall not understand.
Behold, he goes by me, and I do not see him. He passes on also, but I do not perceive him.
12 If he examine on a sudden, who shall answer him? or who can say: Why dost thou so?
Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 God, whose wrath no mall can resist, and under whom they stoop that bear up the world.
“God will not withdraw his anger. The helpers of Rahab stoop under him.
14 What am I then, that I should answer him, and have words with him?
How much less will I answer him, and choose my words to argue with him?
15 I, who although I should have any just thing, would not answer, but would make supplication to my judge.
Though I were righteous, yet I would not answer him. I would make supplication to my judge.
16 And if he should hear me when I call, I should not believe that he had heard my voice.
If I had called, and he had answered me, yet I would not believe that he listened to my voice.
17 For he shall crush me in a whirlwind, and multiply my wounds even without cause.
For he breaks me with a storm, and multiplies my wounds without cause.
18 He alloweth not my spirit to rest, and he filleth me with bitterness.
He will not allow me to catch my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If strength be demanded, he is most strong: if equity of judgment, no man dare bear witness for me.
If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty! If of justice, ‘Who,’ says he, ‘will summon me?’
20 If I would justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I would shew myself innocent, he shall prove me wicked.
Though I am righteous, my own mouth will condemn me. Though I am blameless, it will prove me perverse.
21 Although I should be simple, even this my soul shall be ignorant of, and I shall be weary of my life.
I am blameless. I do not respect myself. I despise my life.
22 One thing there is that I have spoken, both the innocent and the wicked he consumeth.
“It is all the same. Therefore I say he destroys the blameless and the wicked.
23 If he scourge, let him kill at once, and not laugh at the pains of the innocent.
If the scourge kills suddenly, he will mock at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked, he covereth the face of the judges thereof: and if it be not he, who is it then?
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 My days have been swifter than a post: they have fled away and have not seen good.
“Now my days are swifter than a runner. They flee away. They see no good.
26 They have passed by as ships carrying fruits, as an eagle flying to the prey.
They have passed away as the swift ships, as the eagle that swoops on the prey.
27 If I say: I will not speak so: I change my face, and am tormented with sorrow.
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and cheer up,’
28 I feared all my works, knowing that thou didst not spare the offender.
I am afraid of all my sorrows. I know that you will not hold me innocent.
29 But if so also I am wicked, why have I laboured in vain?
I will be condemned. Why then do I labor in vain?
30 If I be washed as it were with snow waters, and my hands shall shine ever so clean:
If I wash myself with snow, and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 Yet thou shalt plunge me in filth, and my garments shall abhor me,
yet you will plunge me in the ditch. My own clothes will abhor me.
32 For I shall not answer a man that is like myself: nor one that may be heard with me equally 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 none that may be able to reprove both, and to put his hand between both.
There is no umpire between us, that might lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away 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 I will speak, and will not fear him: for I cannot answer while I am in fear.
then I would speak, and not fear him, for I am not so in myself.
