< Job 9 >

1 Then Iob answered, and sayd,
Then Job answered and said,
2 I knowe verily that it is so: for howe should man compared vnto God, be iustified?
I know it to be so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
3 If I would dispute with him, hee could not answere him one thing of a thousand.
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one time out of a thousand.
4 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath bene fierce against him and hath prospered?
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?
5 He remoueth the mountaines, and they feele not when he ouerthroweth them in his wrath.
Who removeth the mountains, and they know not: who overturneth them in his anger.
6 Hee remooueth the earth out of her place, that the pillars thereof doe shake.
Who shaketh the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble.
7 He commandeth the sunne, and it riseth not: hee closeth vp the starres, as vnder a signet.
Who commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.
8 Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens, and walketh vpon the height of the sea.
Who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.
9 He maketh the starres Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the climates of the South.
Who maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.
10 He doeth great things, and vnsearcheable: yea, marueilous things without nomber.
Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.
11 Lo, when he goeth by me, I see him not: and when he passeth by, I perceiue him not.
Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.
12 Behold, when he taketh a pray, who can make him to restore it? who shall say vnto him, What doest thou?
Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say to him, What doest thou?
13 God will not withdrawe his anger, and the most mightie helpes doe stoupe vnder him.
If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
14 Howe much lesse shall I answere him? or howe should I finde out my words with him?
How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
15 For though I were iust, yet could I not answere, but I would make supplication to my Iudge.
Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
16 If I cry, and he answere me, yet woulde I not beleeue, that he heard my voyce.
If I had called, and he had answered me; yet I would not believe that he had hearkened to my voice.
17 For he destroyeth mee with a tempest, and woundeth me without cause.
For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
18 He wil not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitternesse.
He will not allow me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
19 If we speake of strength, behold, he is strog: if we speake of iudgement, who shall bring me in to pleade?
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
20 If I woulde iustifie my selfe, mine owne mouth shall condemne mee: if I would be perfite, he shall iudge me wicked.
If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, that also shall prove me perverse.
21 Though I were perfite, yet I knowe not my soule: therefore abhorre I my life.
Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.
22 This is one point: therefore I said, Hee destroyeth the perfite and the wicked.
This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.
23 If the scourge should suddenly slay, should God laugh at the punishment of the innocent?
If the scourge shall slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.
24 The earth is giuen into the hand of ye wicked: he couereth the faces of the iudges therof: if not, where is he? or who is he?
The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of its judges; if not, where, and who is he?
25 My dayes haue bene more swift then a post: they haue fled, and haue seene no good thing.
Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
26 They are passed as with the most swift ships, and as the eagle that flyeth to the pray.
They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
27 If I say, I wil forget my complaynt, I will cease from my wrath, and comfort mee,
If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my heaviness, and comfort myself:
28 Then I am afrayd of all my sorowes, knowing that thou wilt not iudge me innocent.
I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.
29 If I be wicked, why labour I thus in vaine?
If I am wicked, why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash my selfe with snowe water, and purge mine hands most cleane,
If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge mee in the pit, and mine owne clothes shall make me filthie.
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and my own clothes shall abhor me.
32 For he is not a man as I am, that I shoulde answere him, if we come together to iudgement.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 Neyther is there any vmpire that might lay his hand vpon vs both.
Neither is there any mediator between us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his feare astonish me:
Let him take away his rod from me, and let not his fear terrify me:
35 Then will I speake, and feare him not: but because I am not so, I holde me still.
Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

< Job 9 >