Job 9
1 Job replied,
And Job, responding, said:
2 “Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
Truly, I know that it is so, and that man cannot be justified compared with God.
3 If you wanted to argue with God, God could ask a thousand questions that no-one could answer.
If he chooses to contend with him, he is not able to respond to him once out of a thousand times.
4 God is so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
He is understanding in heart and mighty in strength; who has resisted him and yet had peace?
5 God moves the mountains suddenly; he overturns them in his anger.
He has moved mountains, and those whom he overthrew in his fury did not know it.
6 He shakes the earth, making its foundations quake.
He shakes the earth out of its place and its pillars tremble.
7 He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
He commands the sun and it does not rise, and he closes the stars as if under a seal.
8 He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
He alone extends the heavens, and he walks upon the waves of the sea.
9 He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
He fashions Arcturus, and Orion, and Hyades, and the interior of the south.
10 He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
He accomplishes great and incomprehensible and miraculous things, which cannot be numbered.
11 But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
If he approaches me, I will not see him; if he departs, I will not understand.
12 If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going to ask 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 does not restrain his anger; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
God, whose wrath no one is able to resist, and under whom they bend who carry the world,
14 So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
what am I then, that I should answer him and exchange words with him?
15 Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
And if I now have any justice, I will not respond, but will beseech my judge.
16 Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
And if he should listen to me when I call, I would not believe that he had heard my voice.
17 He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
For he will crush me in a whirlwind and multiply my wounds, even without cause.
18 He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
He does not permit my spirit to rest, and he fills me with bitterness.
19 If it's a question of strength, then God is the strongest. If it's a question of justice, then who will set a time for my case?
If strength is sought, he is most strong; if equity in judgment, no one would dare to give testimony for me.
20 Even though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
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 innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
And if I now became simple, my soul would be ignorant even of this, and my life would weary me.
22 That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
There is one thing that I have said: both the innocent and the impious he consumes.
23 When disaster strikes suddenly he mocks the despair of the innocent.
If he scourges, let him kill all at once, and not laugh at the punishment of the innocent.
24 The earth has been handed over to the wicked; he blinds the eyes of the judges—if it's not him who does this, then who 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 The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
My days have been swifter than a messenger; they have fled and have not seen goodness.
26 They pass by like fast sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
They have passed by like ships carrying fruits, just like an eagle flying to food.
27 If I said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
If I say: “By no means will I speak this way.” I change my face and I am tortured with sorrow.
28 I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
I have dreaded all my works, knowing that you did not spare the offender.
29 Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
Yet, if I am also just as impious, why have I labored in vain?
30 Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
If I had been washed with snow-like waters, and my hands were shining like the cleanest thing,
31 you would toss me into a slime pit so that even my own clothes would hate me!
yet you would plunge me in filth, and my own garments would abhor me.
32 For God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
For even I would not answer a man who were like myself, nor one who could be heard with me equally in judgment.
33 If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
There is no one who could both prevail in argument and in placing his hand between the two.
34 I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
Let him take his staff away from me, and let not the fear of him terrify me.
35 Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
I will speak and I will not fear him, for in fearfulness I am not able to respond.
