Job 9
1 Then responded Job, and said—
Job replied,
2 Of a truth, I know that so it is, But how can a mortal be just with GOD?
“Yes, I know all that! But how can anyone be right before God?
3 If he choose to contend with him, he cannot answer him, one of a thousand:
If you wanted to argue with God, God could ask a thousand questions that no-one could answer.
4 Wise in heart, and alert in vigour, What man hath hardened himself against him, and prospered!
God is so wise and so powerful that no-one could challenge him and win.
5 Who removeth mountains, unawares, Who overturneth them in his anger;
God moves the mountains suddenly; he overturns them in his anger.
6 Who shaketh the earth, out of its place, and, the pillars thereof, shudder;
He shakes the earth, making its foundations quake.
7 Who commandeth the sun, and it breaketh not forth, and, about the stars, he putteth a seal;
He is the one who can command the sun not to rise and the stars not to shine.
8 Who spreadeth out fire heavens, by himself alone! and marcheth along, on the heights of the sea;
He alone is the one who stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea.
9 Who made the Bear, the Giant and the Cluster, and the chambers of the south;
He made the constellations of the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades, and the stars of the southern sky.
10 Who doeth great things, past finding out, and marvels, beyond number.
He is the one who does incredible things that are beyond our understanding, marvelous things that are uncountable.
11 Lo! he cometh upon me, yet can I not see him, Yea he passeth on, yet can I not discern him.
But when he passes by me, I don't see him; when he moves on, he is invisible to me.
12 Lo! he snatcheth away, who can bring it back? Who shall say unto him, What wouldst thou do?
If he takes away, who can prevent him? Who is going to ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
13 As for GOD, if he withdraw not his anger, under him, will have submitted themselves—the proud helpers.
God does not restrain his anger; he crushes Rahab's helpers underfoot.
14 How much less that, I, should answer him, should choose my words with him?
So how much less could I answer God, or choose my words to argue with him!
15 Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, to be absolved, I would make supplication.
Even though I'm right, I can't answer him. I must plead for mercy from my judge.
16 Though I had called, and he had answered me, I could not believe, that he would lend an ear to my voice.
Even if I called him to come and he responded, I don't believe he would listen to me.
17 For, with a tempest, would he fall upon me, and would multiply my wounds without need;
He pounds me with the winds of a storm; he wounds me time and again, without giving a reason.
18 He would not suffer me to recover my breath, for he would surfeit me with bitter things.
He doesn't give me a chance even to catch my breath; instead he fills my life with bitter suffering.
19 If it regardeth vigour, bold is he! If justice, who could summon him?
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?
20 If I should justify myself, mine own mouth, would condemn me, —I blameless? then had it shewn me perverse.
Even though I am right, my own mouth would condemn me; even though I am innocent, he would prove me wrong.
21 I blameless? I should not know my own soul, I should despise my own life!
I am innocent! I don't care what happens to me. I hate my life!
22 One thing, there is, for which cause, I have said it, The blameless and the lawless, he bringeth to an end.
That's why I say, ‘It makes no difference to God. He destroys both the innocent and the wicked.’
23 If, a scourge, slay suddenly, at the despair of innocent ones, he mocketh.
When disaster strikes suddenly he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24 The earth, hath been given into the hand of a lawless one, The faces of her judges, he covereth, If not, then who is it?
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?
25 My days, therefore, are swifter than a runner, They have fled, they have seen no good.
The days of my life race by like a runner, rushing past without me seeing any happiness.
26 They have passed away with boats of paper-reed, like a vulture [which] rusheth upon food.
They pass by like fast sailing ships, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
27 If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will lay aside my sad countenance, and brighten up,
If I said to myself, ‘I will forget my complaints; I will stop crying and be happy,’
28 I am afraid of all my pains, I know, that thou wilt not pronounce me innocent.
I would still be terrified at all my suffering because you, God, will not say I'm innocent.
29 I, shall be held guilty, —Wherefore then, in vain, should I toil?
Since I'm condemned, what's the point in arguing?
30 Though I bathe myself in snow water, and cleanse, in cleanness itself, my hands,
Even if I wash myself with pure mountain water and clean my hands with soap,
31 Then, in a ditch, wouldst thou plunge me, and mine own clothes should abhor me:
you would toss me into a slime pit so that even my own clothes would hate me!
32 For he is not a man like myself, whom I might answer, nor could we come together into judgment:
For God is not a mortal being like me, I can't defend myself or take him to court.
33 There is not, between us, a mediator, who might lay his hand upon us both.
If only there was an arbitrator who could bring us both together!
34 Let him take from off me his rod, and, his terror, let it not startle me:
I wish God would stop beating me with his rod and terrifying me!
35 I could speak, and not be afraid of him, although, not so, am, I, in myself!
Then I could speak up without being afraid—but since I am, I can't!”
